Wings 3D 1.5.3. crashes when editing preferences

[Wulfhelm]

I did use the software to create some basic shapes, and I'm sure I exited it once. The crash only happened when I bothered to change the preferences.

If I remove the file, then start the program and exit it, a new one is indeed created.

I have also, in the meantime, uninstalled it, removed all traces I could find (registry, folders), restarted my machine and reinstalled it. No change, I'm afraid.

EDIT: Also, I just jumped the gun a bit and gave the 1.4.1 version a try. That works. Also I didn't get any error message about the Microsoft C++ distributable in that installation.