Creating alternative configurations and problems with consequent compile

1) I create an alternative configuration "deploy" in configuration manager.
This is derived from the "release" configuration.
I do nothing to this configuration except ask it to build and Im getting
compiler errors eg "Unsafe Code may only appear if compiling with /unsafe"
and errors about it not being able to find certain project assemblies.
If it's a straight derivation from the "release" configuration, why am I
getting build errors?

2) I create a new configuration "deploy". I add a new project to my
solution. When I go into configuration manager to set which configurations
this project should be compiled with, "debug" and "release" are listed (plus
"new" and "edit) but the "deploy" configuration is missing (just for the new
project). At the moment this means I have to delete the "deploy"
configuration completely, re-add it. Only then is it listed as an option. Is
this a bug?

thanks
Claire