Thanks, Lee D. I changed the Renderer from NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M to Default (Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 and Photo allowed me to set up a new file and also to open an existing plain vanilla jpg image. Now I can finally get on with learning the program.
I have purchased all three Affinity programs to replace my aged Adobe CS4 programs that are getting increasingly cranky running on Windows 10. My usual MO when learning a new program is to use it for an actual project, but Photo stopped me in my tracks and I had to revert to Adobe to get it done.
I am the little old lady "graphic designer", "webmistress", and the only person in out all volunteer nonprofit who does not believe that a computer is just a typewriter with a screen. I was feeling even more inadequate than usual when I couldn't even get the program to stay open. (I regard it as a personal failure when I have to contact tech support.)
Nothing personal, but hopefully we will not have to become BFFs . Thanks again.
Marj