I had a big problem with this error because every thing came normal but i had one error on Settings.Default.Save() method.
I think that, You can correct this error from app.config file.
I know that you wanna say this file is OK but i must tell you that i was like you, too.
However, you can test this way.
In this way you can build a sample application and then go to app.config and copy/past some line form first.
You must compare these codes with your uncorrected app.config file.
This is a section of my corrected app.config file.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <configuration> <configSections> <sectionGroup name="userSettings" type="System.Configuration.UserSettingsGroup, System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" > <section name="XYZ.Properties.Settings" type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection, System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" allowExeDefinition="MachineToLocalUser" /> </sectionGroup> <sectionGroup name="applicationSettings" type="System.Configuration.ApplicationSettingsGroup, System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" > <section name="XYZ.Properties.Settings" type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection, System, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" /> </sectionGroup> </configSections> ....I hope this helps, Be happy.