diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/App.config b/src/ARKServerManager/App.config
index 53c0f76e..e4fa4128 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/App.config
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/App.config
@@ -365,6 +365,9 @@
       <setting name="DiscordUrl" serializeAs="String">
         <value>https://discord.gg/cJdHJSG</value>
       </setting>
+      <setting name="ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol" serializeAs="String">
+        <value>3072</value>
+      </setting>
     </ServerManagerTool.Config>
     <ServerManagerTool.Common.CommonConfig>
       <setting name="DefaultSteamAPIKey" serializeAs="String">
diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/App.xaml.cs b/src/ARKServerManager/App.xaml.cs
index 30b02f45..26cdd66d 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/App.xaml.cs
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/App.xaml.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using System.ComponentModel;
+using System.Configuration;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.IO;
@@ -50,43 +51,12 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
 
         public App()
         {
-            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey))
-            {
-                Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.DataDir))
-            {
-                Config.Default.DataDir = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.DataDir);
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ConfigDirectory))
-            {
-                Config.Default.ConfigDirectory = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.ConfigDirectory);
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.BackupPath))
-            {
-                Config.Default.BackupPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.BackupPath);
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir))
-            {
-                Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir);
-            }
-
-            App.Instance = this;
+            Instance = this;
             ApplicationStarted = false;
             Args = string.Empty;
             BetaVersion = false;
             Title = string.Empty;
             Version = AppUtils.GetDeployedVersion(Assembly.GetEntryAssembly());
-
-            ServicePointManager.SecurityProtocol = SecurityUtils.GetSecurityProtocol(0xC00); // TLS12
-            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.UnhandledException += ErrorHandling.CurrentDomain_UnhandledException;
-
-            MigrateSettings();
-            ReconfigureLogging();
         }
 
         public bool ApplicationStarted
@@ -195,6 +165,37 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
             }
         }
 
+        private void CheckForValidSettings()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                // test one property from both setting files
+                var upgradeConfigTest = Config.Default.UpgradeConfig;
+                upgradeConfigTest = CommonConfig.Default.UpgradeConfig;
+
+                // no issues fetching the setting values, must have valid files.
+                return;
+            }
+            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException ex)
+            {
+                // one or more issues occurred when fetching the setting values.
+                // we need to delete the setting files.
+
+                ConfigurationErrorsException exception = ex;
+                while (exception != null)
+                {
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(exception.Filename) && exception.Filename.EndsWith("user.config"))
+                    {
+                        File.Delete(exception.Filename);
+                    }
+
+                    exception = exception.InnerException as ConfigurationErrorsException;
+                }
+
+                throw;
+            }
+        }
+
         public static void DiscoverMachinePublicIP(bool forceOverride)
         {
             if (forceOverride || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.MachinePublicIP))
@@ -309,6 +310,50 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
         {
             base.OnStartup(e);
 
+            try
+            {
+                CheckForValidSettings();
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                var message = $"{ex.Message}\r\n\r\nTry restarting the server manager, if this keeps happening please report this crash to the Server Manager discord.";
+                var result = MessageBox.Show(message, "Server Manager crashed", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Exclamation);
+                Environment.Exit(1);
+            }
+
+            MigrateSettings();
+
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey))
+            {
+                Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.DataDir))
+            {
+                Config.Default.DataDir = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.DataDir);
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ConfigDirectory))
+            {
+                Config.Default.ConfigDirectory = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.ConfigDirectory);
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.BackupPath))
+            {
+                Config.Default.BackupPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.BackupPath);
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir))
+            {
+                Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir);
+            }
+
+            ServicePointManager.SecurityProtocol = SecurityUtils.GetSecurityProtocol(Config.Default.ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol);
+
+            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.UnhandledException += ErrorHandling.CurrentDomain_UnhandledException;
+
+            ReconfigureLogging();
+
             _globalizer = GlobalizedApplication.Instance;
             try
             {
diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/Config.Designer.cs b/src/ARKServerManager/Config.Designer.cs
index 45ae9010..bb48af64 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/Config.Designer.cs
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/Config.Designer.cs
@@ -3255,5 +3255,14 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool {
                 this["Alert_OnlinePlayerCountChange"] = value;
             }
         }
+        
+        [global::System.Configuration.ApplicationScopedSettingAttribute()]
+        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
+        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("3072")]
+        public int ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol {
+            get {
+                return ((int)(this["ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol"]));
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/Config.settings b/src/ARKServerManager/Config.settings
index c5f1fe1b..028fd1a4 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/Config.settings
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/Config.settings
@@ -893,5 +893,8 @@
     <Setting Name="Alert_OnlinePlayerCountChange" Type="System.String" Scope="User">
       <Value Profile="(Default)">Online Player Count:</Value>
     </Setting>
+    <Setting Name="ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol" Type="System.Int32" Scope="Application">
+      <Value Profile="(Default)">3072</Value>
+    </Setting>
   </Settings>
 </SettingsFile>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs b/src/ARKServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs
index 5e8f78d1..e8518a7f 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
             {
                 var details = new StringBuilder();
                 details.AppendLine("ARK Server Manager Crash Report");
-                details.AppendLine("Please report this crash to the Ark Server Manager forums - https://arkservermanager.freeforums.net");
+                details.AppendLine($"Please report this crash to the Server Manager discord - {Config.Default.DiscordUrl}");
                 details.AppendLine();
 
                 details.AppendLine($"Assembly: {Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()}");
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
                 message.AppendLine($"Crash Dump: {crashFile}");
                 details.AppendLine();
                 details.AppendLine();
-                message.AppendLine("Please report this crash to the Ark Server Manager forums - https://arkservermanager.freeforums.net");
+                message.AppendLine($"Please report this crash to the Server Manager discord - {Config.Default.DiscordUrl}");
                 message.AppendLine("The crash log will now be opened in notepad.");
 
                 var result = MessageBox.Show(message.ToString(), "ARK Server Manager crashed", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Exclamation);
diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeed.xml b/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeed.xml
index 083ba99d..f1d7a9ff 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeed.xml
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeed.xml
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 
   <entry>
     <id>urn:uuid:8CDA70CF-E8B8-4B9B-AD50-AD9A8B528E5B</id>
-    <title>1.1.436 (1.1.436.1)</title>
-    <summary>1.1.436.1</summary>
+    <title>1.1.436 (1.1.436.2)</title>
+    <summary>1.1.436.2</summary>
     <link href="" />
-    <updated>2022-07-15T00:00:00Z</updated>
+    <updated>2022-07-16T00:00:00Z</updated>
     <content type="xhtml">
       <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Sans-Serif;font-size: .8em;">
         <p>
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
           <br/>
           <ul>
             <li>Server Status - changed the server status code to stop the status cycling and to be more accurate.</li>
+            <li>Added a check for a valid configuration file when starting the server manager.\r\nIf config file is not valid, then it will delete the config file and shutdown the manager, with a message to restart the manager.</li>
           </ul>
         </p>
       </div>
diff --git a/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml b/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml
index 750127f9..6917c1de 100644
--- a/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml
+++ b/src/ARKServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,30 @@
   <title>Ark Server Manager Version Feed</title>
   <subtitle>This is the Ark Server Manager beta version feed.</subtitle>
   <link href="https://arkservermanager.freeforums.net/" />
-  <updated>2022-07-15T00:00:00Z</updated>
+  <updated>2022-07-16T00:00:00Z</updated>
+
+  <entry>
+    <id>urn:uuid:8CDA70CF-E8B8-4B9B-AD50-AD9A8B528E5B</id>
+    <title>1.1.436 (1.1.436.2)</title>
+    <summary>1.1.436.2</summary>
+    <link href="" />
+    <updated>2022-07-16T00:00:00Z</updated>
+    <content type="xhtml">
+      <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Sans-Serif;font-size: .8em;">
+        <p>
+          <u style="font-size: .9em;">BUGFIX</u>
+          <br/>
+          <ul>
+            <li>Added a check for a valid configuration file when starting the server manager.\r\nIf config file is not valid, then it will delete the config file and shutdown the manager, with a message to restart the manager.</li>
+          </ul>
+        </p>
+      </div>
+    </content>
+    <author>
+      <name>bletch</name>
+      <email>bletch1971@hotmail.com</email>
+    </author>
+  </entry>
 
   <entry>
     <id>urn:uuid:8CDA70CF-E8B8-4B9B-AD50-AD9A8B528E5B</id>
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/App.config b/src/ConanServerManager/App.config
index 866b2103..add373f6 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/App.config
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/App.config
@@ -284,6 +284,9 @@
       <setting name="DiscordUrl" serializeAs="String">
         <value>https://discord.gg/cJdHJSG</value>
       </setting>
+      <setting name="ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol" serializeAs="String">
+        <value>3072</value>
+      </setting>
     </ServerManagerTool.Config>
     <ServerManagerTool.Common.CommonConfig>
       <setting name="DefaultSteamAPIKey" serializeAs="String">
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/App.xaml.cs b/src/ConanServerManager/App.xaml.cs
index 83874b10..bc6664ed 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/App.xaml.cs
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/App.xaml.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using System.ComponentModel;
+using System.Configuration;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.IO;
@@ -49,43 +50,12 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
 
         public App()
         {
-            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey))
-            {
-                Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.DataPath))
-            {
-                Config.Default.DataPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.DataPath);
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ConfigPath))
-            {
-                Config.Default.ConfigPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.ConfigPath);
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.BackupPath))
-            {
-                Config.Default.BackupPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.BackupPath);
-            }
-
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir))
-            {
-                Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir);
-            }
-
-            App.Instance = this;
+            Instance = this;
             ApplicationStarted = false;
             Args = string.Empty;
             BetaVersion = false;
             Title = string.Empty;
             Version = AppUtils.GetDeployedVersion(Assembly.GetEntryAssembly());
-
-            ServicePointManager.SecurityProtocol = SecurityUtils.GetSecurityProtocol(0xC00); // TLS12
-            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.UnhandledException += ErrorHandling.CurrentDomain_UnhandledException;
-
-            MigrateSettings();
-            ReconfigureLogging();
         }
 
         public bool ApplicationStarted
@@ -194,6 +164,37 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
             }
         }
 
+        private void CheckForValidSettings()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                // test one property from both setting files
+                var upgradeConfigTest = Config.Default.UpgradeConfig;
+                upgradeConfigTest = CommonConfig.Default.UpgradeConfig;
+
+                // no issues fetching the setting values, must have valid files.
+                return;
+            }
+            catch (ConfigurationErrorsException ex)
+            {
+                // one or more issues occurred when fetching the setting values.
+                // we need to delete the setting files.
+
+                ConfigurationErrorsException exception = ex;
+                while (exception != null)
+                {
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(exception.Filename) && exception.Filename.EndsWith("user.config"))
+                    {
+                        File.Delete(exception.Filename);
+                    }
+
+                    exception = exception.InnerException as ConfigurationErrorsException;
+                }
+
+                throw;
+            }
+        }
+
         public static void DiscoverMachinePublicIP(bool forceOverride)
         {
             if (forceOverride || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.MachinePublicIP))
@@ -308,6 +309,50 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
         {
             base.OnStartup(e);
 
+            try
+            {
+                CheckForValidSettings();
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                var message = $"{ex.Message}\r\n\r\nTry restarting the server manager, if this keeps happening please report this crash to the Server Manager discord.";
+                var result = MessageBox.Show(message, "Server Manager crashed", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Exclamation);
+                Environment.Exit(1);
+            }
+
+            MigrateSettings();
+
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey))
+            {
+                Config.Default.ServerManagerUniqueKey = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.DataPath))
+            {
+                Config.Default.DataPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.DataPath);
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.ConfigPath))
+            {
+                Config.Default.ConfigPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.ConfigPath);
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.BackupPath))
+            {
+                Config.Default.BackupPath = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.BackupPath);
+            }
+
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir))
+            {
+                Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir = IOUtils.NormalizeFolder(Config.Default.AutoUpdate_CacheDir);
+            }
+
+            ServicePointManager.SecurityProtocol = SecurityUtils.GetSecurityProtocol(Config.Default.ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol);
+
+            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.UnhandledException += ErrorHandling.CurrentDomain_UnhandledException;
+
+            ReconfigureLogging();
+
             _globalizer = GlobalizedApplication.Instance;
             try
             {
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/Config.Designer.cs b/src/ConanServerManager/Config.Designer.cs
index 727e3171..0d4c399f 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/Config.Designer.cs
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/Config.Designer.cs
@@ -2447,5 +2447,14 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool {
                 this["Alert_OnlinePlayerCountChange"] = value;
             }
         }
+        
+        [global::System.Configuration.ApplicationScopedSettingAttribute()]
+        [global::System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCodeAttribute()]
+        [global::System.Configuration.DefaultSettingValueAttribute("3072")]
+        public int ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol {
+            get {
+                return ((int)(this["ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol"]));
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/Config.settings b/src/ConanServerManager/Config.settings
index 18907b1c..67f0befc 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/Config.settings
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/Config.settings
@@ -671,5 +671,8 @@
     <Setting Name="Alert_OnlinePlayerCountChange" Type="System.String" Scope="User">
       <Value Profile="(Default)">Online Player Count:</Value>
     </Setting>
+    <Setting Name="ServicePointManager_SecurityProtocol" Type="System.Int32" Scope="Application">
+      <Value Profile="(Default)">3072</Value>
+    </Setting>
   </Settings>
 </SettingsFile>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs b/src/ConanServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs
index 0ba411ef..d4c3f468 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/ErrorHandling.cs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
             {
                 var details = new StringBuilder();
                 details.AppendLine("Server Manager Crash Report");
-                details.AppendLine($"Please report this crash to the Server Manager forums - {Config.Default.ServerManagerForumUrl}");
+                details.AppendLine($"Please report this crash to the Server Manager discord - {Config.Default.DiscordUrl}");
                 details.AppendLine();
 
                 details.AppendLine($"Assembly: {Assembly.GetEntryAssembly()}");
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace ServerManagerTool
                 message.AppendLine($"Crash Dump: {crashFile}");
                 details.AppendLine();
                 details.AppendLine();
-                message.AppendLine($"Please report this crash to the Server Manager forums - {Config.Default.ServerManagerForumUrl}");
+                message.AppendLine($"Please report this crash to the Server Manager discord - {Config.Default.DiscordUrl}");
                 message.AppendLine("The crash log will now be opened in notepad.");
 
                 var result = MessageBox.Show(message.ToString(), "Server Manager crashed", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Exclamation);
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeed.xml b/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeed.xml
index baa6a4fe..6f042b38 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeed.xml
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeed.xml
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 
   <entry>
     <id>urn:uuid:8CDA70CF-E8B8-4B9B-AD50-AD9A8B528E5B</id>
-    <title>1.1.79 (1.1.79.1)</title>
-    <summary>1.1.79.1</summary>
+    <title>1.1.79 (1.1.79.2)</title>
+    <summary>1.1.79.2</summary>
     <link href="" />
-    <updated>2022-07-15T00:00:00Z</updated>
+    <updated>2022-07-16T00:00:00Z</updated>
     <content type="xhtml">
       <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Sans-Serif;font-size: .8em;">
         <p>
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
           <br/>
           <ul>
             <li>Server Status - changed the server status code to stop the status cycling and to be more accurate.</li>
+            <li>Added a check for a valid configuration file when starting the server manager.\r\nIf config file is not valid, then it will delete the config file and shutdown the manager, with a message to restart the manager.</li>
           </ul>
         </p>
       </div>
diff --git a/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml b/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml
index 20843139..09985a9e 100644
--- a/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml
+++ b/src/ConanServerManager/VersionFeedBeta.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,30 @@
   <title>Conan Server Manager Version Feed</title>
   <subtitle>This is the Conan Server Manager beta version feed.</subtitle>
   <link href="https://servermanagers.freeforums.net/" />
-  <updated>2022-07-15T00:00:00Z</updated>
+  <updated>2022-07-16T00:00:00Z</updated>
+
+  <entry>
+    <id>urn:uuid:8CDA70CF-E8B8-4B9B-AD50-AD9A8B528E5B</id>
+    <title>1.1.79 (1.1.79.2)</title>
+    <summary>1.1.79.2</summary>
+    <link href="" />
+    <updated>2022-07-16T00:00:00Z</updated>
+    <content type="xhtml">
+      <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, Sans-Serif;font-size: .8em;">
+        <p>
+          <u style="font-size: .9em;">BUGFIX</u>
+          <br/>
+          <ul>
+            <li>Added a check for a valid configuration file when starting the server manager.\r\nIf config file is not valid, then it will delete the config file and shutdown the manager, with a message to restart the manager.</li>
+          </ul>
+        </p>
+      </div>
+    </content>
+    <author>
+      <name>bletch</name>
+      <email>bletch1971@hotmail.com</email>
+    </author>
+  </entry>
 
   <entry>
     <id>urn:uuid:8CDA70CF-E8B8-4B9B-AD50-AD9A8B528E5B</id>