Handling Corrupt "user.config" Settings

try
{
    Settings.Default.Reload();
    string value = Settings.Default.DatabaseName;
}
catch (ConfigurationErrorsException ex)
{ //(requires System.Configuration)
    string filename = ((ConfigurationErrorsException)ex.InnerException).Filename;

    if (MessageBox.Show("<ProgramName> has detected that your" +
                          " user settings file has become corrupted. " +
                          "This may be due to a crash or improper exiting" +
                          " of the program. <ProgramName> must reset your " +
                          "user settings in order to continue.\n\nClick" +
                          " Yes to reset your user settings and continue.\n\n" +
                          "Click No if you wish to attempt manual repair" +
                          " or to rescue information before proceeding.",
                          "Corrupt user settings",
                          MessageBoxButtons.YesNo,
                          MessageBoxIcon.Error) == DialogResult.Yes)
    {
        File.Delete(filename);
        Settings.Default.Reload();
        // you could optionally restart the app instead
    }
    else
        Process.GetCurrentProcess().Kill();
    // avoid the inevitable crash
}

Try
      'If the .config file is corrupt then next line will throw an error
      Dim config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.PerUserRoamingAndLocal)
      Dim FullFileName As String = config.FilePath
      Dim CopyFile As String = Path.GetDirectoryName(FullFileName) & "\COPY_" & Path.GetFileName(FullFileName)
      If File.Exists(CopyFile) Then File.Delete(CopyFile)
      File.Copy(FullFileName, CopyFile)
Catch ex As System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException
      Dim FullFilename = ex.Filename
      Dim CopyFile As String = Path.GetDirectoryName(FullFilename) & "\COPY_" & Path.GetFileName(FullFilename)
      File.Delete(FullFilename)
      File.Copy(CopyFile, FullFilename)
End Try

'Check for corrupt settings
Try
    System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(Configuration.ConfigurationUserLevel.PerUserRoaming)
Catch ex As System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException
    Dim Filename As String = ex.Filename
    System.IO.File.Delete(Filename)
End Try

If My.Settings.CallUpgrade Then
    My.Settings.Upgrade()
    My.Settings.CallUpgrade = False
    My.Settings.Save()
End If

    Private userconfig_is_valid As Boolean = True
    Private Sub CheckConfig()
        Dim xmlpath As String = Nothing

        Try
            Dim config As Configuration = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.PerUserRoamingAndLocal)
            xmlpath = config.FilePath

            Dim settings As XmlReaderSettings = New XmlReaderSettings()
            Dim xsdreader As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(New IO.MemoryStream(My.Resources.userconfig_xsd))
            settings.Schemas.Add("", xsdreader)
            settings.ValidationType = ValidationType.Schema

            Dim reader As XmlReader = XmlReader.Create(xmlpath, settings)
            Dim document As XmlDocument = New XmlDocument()
            document.Load(reader)

            Dim eventHandler As Schema.ValidationEventHandler = New Schema.ValidationEventHandler(AddressOf ValidationEventHandler)
            document.Validate(eventHandler)

            If userconfig_is_valid = False Then
                GoTo exitpoint
            End If
            
            ' If the xml is valid, we try to load a property from the config.
            ' If this fails, it throws a ConfigurationErrorsException
            Dim tmp = My.Settings.<any_existing_property_from_the_settings>

        Catch ex1 As ConfigurationErrorsException
            '' Not important, the config file's path didn't changed
            'Dim filename As String = ex.Filename
            'If filename Is Nothing Then
            '    Try
            '        filename = CType(ex.InnerException, ConfigurationErrorsException).Filename
            '    Catch exc As Exception
            '    End Try
            'End If

            xmlpath = filename
            GoTo exitpoint

        Catch ex2 As ConfigurationException
            GoTo exitpoint

        Catch ex3 As Schema.XmlSchemaValidationException
            GoTo exitpoint

        Catch ex4 As IO.IOException
            ' Config file doesn't exist, the framework will create one
            Exit Sub

        Catch ex5 As Exception
            GoTo exitpoint

        End Try


        Exit Sub


exitpoint:
        XtraMessageBox.Show(Me, "Config file is corrupt. Fixing it after application shutdown." & vbCrLf & _
                                "Please, restart the application.", "Error", _
                                MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        Try
            System.IO.File.Delete(xmlpath)
        Catch exc As Exception
        End Try
        Environment.Exit(-1)


    End Sub
    Private Sub ValidationEventHandler(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As Schema.ValidationEventArgs)
        userconfig_is_valid = False
    End Sub

static void RestoreUserSettings()
{
    //restore user settings
    try
    {
        Settings.Default.<SomeProperty>.ToString();
    }
    catch ( ConfigurationErrorsException ex )
    {
        string filename = ( (ConfigurationErrorsException)ex.InnerException ).Filename;
        File.Delete( filename );
        Application.Restart();
        Process.GetCurrentProcess().Kill();

    }
}