diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/AboutDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/AboutDialog.cpp
index 7201251ff..15766710f 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/AboutDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/AboutDialog.cpp
@@ -364,15 +364,13 @@ TBoard::TBoard(QWidget *parent) {
     score = 0;
     level = 0;
 
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    maxScore = settings.value("/about/maxsc").toInt();
+    maxScore = Settings->value("/about/maxsc").toInt();
 }
 TBoard::~TBoard() {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    int oldMax = settings.value("/about/maxsc").toInt();
+    int oldMax = Settings->value("/about/maxsc").toInt();
     int newMax = qMax(maxScore, score);
     if (oldMax < newMax) {
-        settings.setValue("/about/maxsc", newMax);
+        Settings->setValue("/about/maxsc", newMax);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp
index 184baf418..43924d005 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@
 #include "rsiface/rsmsgs.h"
 #include "rsiface/rsforums.h"
 
-#include "settings/rsettings.h"
-
 #include <sstream>
 #include <algorithm>
 
@@ -109,6 +107,8 @@ ForumsDialog::ForumsDialog(QWidget *parent)
     /* Invoke the Qt Designer generated object setup routine */
     ui.setupUi(this);
 
+    m_bProcessSettings = false;
+
     connect( ui.forumTreeWidget, SIGNAL( customContextMenuRequested( QPoint ) ), this, SLOT( forumListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint ) ) );
     connect( ui.threadTreeWidget, SIGNAL( customContextMenuRequested( QPoint ) ), this, SLOT( threadListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint ) ) );
 
@@ -219,41 +219,46 @@ ForumsDialog::~ForumsDialog()
 
 void ForumsDialog::processSettings(bool bLoad)
 {
+    m_bProcessSettings = true;
+
     QHeaderView *pHeader = ui.threadTreeWidget->header () ;
 
-    RSettings settings(QString("ForumsDialog"));
+    Settings->beginGroup(QString("ForumsDialog"));
 
     if (bLoad) {
         // load settings
 
         // expandFiles
-        bool bValue = settings.value("expandButton", true).toBool();
+        bool bValue = Settings->value("expandButton", true).toBool();
         ui.expandButton->setChecked(bValue);
         togglethreadview_internal();
 
         // filterColumn
-        int nValue = FilterColumnToComboBox(settings.value("filterColumn", true).toInt());
+        int nValue = FilterColumnToComboBox(Settings->value("filterColumn", true).toInt());
         ui.filterColumnComboBox->setCurrentIndex(nValue);
 
         // index of viewBox
-        ui.viewBox->setCurrentIndex(settings.value("viewBox", VIEW_THREADED).toInt());
+        ui.viewBox->setCurrentIndex(Settings->value("viewBox", VIEW_THREADED).toInt());
 
         // state of thread tree
-        pHeader->restoreState(settings.value("ThreadTree").toByteArray());
+        pHeader->restoreState(Settings->value("ThreadTree").toByteArray());
 
         // state of splitter
-        ui.splitter->restoreState(settings.value("Splitter").toByteArray());
-        ui.threadSplitter->restoreState(settings.value("threadSplitter").toByteArray());
+        ui.splitter->restoreState(Settings->value("Splitter").toByteArray());
+        ui.threadSplitter->restoreState(Settings->value("threadSplitter").toByteArray());
     } else {
         // save settings
 
         // state of thread tree
-        settings.setValue("ThreadTree", pHeader->saveState());
+        Settings->setValue("ThreadTree", pHeader->saveState());
 
         // state of splitter
-        settings.setValue("Splitter", ui.splitter->saveState());
-        settings.setValue("threadSplitter", ui.threadSplitter->saveState());
+        Settings->setValue("Splitter", ui.splitter->saveState());
+        Settings->setValue("threadSplitter", ui.threadSplitter->saveState());
     }
+
+    Settings->endGroup();
+    m_bProcessSettings = false;
 }
 
 void ForumsDialog::forumListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint point )
@@ -344,8 +349,7 @@ void ForumsDialog::threadListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint point )
 void ForumsDialog::togglethreadview()
 {
     // save state of button
-    RSettings settings(QString("ForumsDialog"));
-    settings.setValue("expandButton", ui.expandButton->isChecked());
+    Settings->setValueToGroup("ForumsDialog", "expandButton", ui.expandButton->isChecked());
 
     togglethreadview_internal();
 }
@@ -1436,15 +1440,22 @@ void ForumsDialog::clearFilter()
 
 void ForumsDialog::changedViewBox()
 {
+    if (m_bProcessSettings) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     // save index
-    RSettings settings(QString("ForumsDialog"));
-    settings.setValue("viewBox", ui.viewBox->currentIndex());
+    Settings->setValueToGroup("ForumsDialog", "viewBox", ui.viewBox->currentIndex());
 
     insertThreads();
 }
 
 void ForumsDialog::filterColumnChanged()
 {
+    if (m_bProcessSettings) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     int nFilterColumn = FilterColumnFromComboBox(ui.filterColumnComboBox->currentIndex());
     if (nFilterColumn == COLUMN_CONTENT) {
         // need content ... refill
@@ -1454,8 +1465,7 @@ void ForumsDialog::filterColumnChanged()
     }
 
     // save index
-    RSettings settings(QString("ForumsDialog"));
-    settings.setValue("filterColumn", nFilterColumn);
+    Settings->setValueToGroup("ForumsDialog", "filterColumn", nFilterColumn);
 }
 
 void ForumsDialog::FilterItems()
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h
index 3f21c5e9e..6e77cdc05 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ private:
   void FilterItems();
   bool FilterItem(QTreeWidgetItem *pItem, QString &sPattern, int nFilterColumn);
 
+  bool m_bProcessSettings;
+
   QTreeWidgetItem *YourForums;
   QTreeWidgetItem *SubscribedForums;
   QTreeWidgetItem *PopularForums;
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/GenCertDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/GenCertDialog.cpp
index 5086328d2..f0de5ceee 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/GenCertDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/GenCertDialog.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include <rsiface/rsinit.h>
 #include "GenCertDialog.h"
 #include "InfoDialog.h"
-#include "gui/settings/rsharesettings.h"
 #include <QAbstractEventDispatcher>
 #include <QFileDialog>
 #include <QMessageBox>
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
index 90a0a787d..3ae9d5fa6 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -122,11 +122,9 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget* parent, Qt::WFlags flags)
     /* Invoke the Qt Designer generated QObject setup routine */
     ui.setupUi(this);
     
-    RshareSettings settings;
-
-    if (settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("FirstRun"), true).toBool())
+    if (Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("FirstRun"), true).toBool())
     {
-                settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("FirstRun"), false);
+		Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("FirstRun"), false);
 		QuickStartWizard *qstartWizard = new QuickStartWizard(this);
 		qstartWizard->exec();
     }
@@ -573,9 +571,7 @@ void MainWindow::createActions()
 */
 void MainWindow::doQuit()
 {
-	RshareSettings settings;
-
-	if(!settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), false).toBool())
+	if(!Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), false).toBool())
 	{
 	  QString queryWrn;
 	  queryWrn.clear();
@@ -603,9 +599,7 @@ void MainWindow::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *e)
 {
     static bool firstTime = true;
 
-   RshareSettings settings;
-
-   if(!settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("ClosetoTray"), false).toBool())
+   if(!Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("ClosetoTray"), false).toBool())
    {
       if (trayIcon->isVisible()) {
           if (firstTime)
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp
index 0d3ac6cf2..df09d2c8f 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "rsiface/rspeers.h"
 #include "rsiface/rsfiles.h"
 
-#include "settings/rsettings.h"
 #include <QtGui>
 
 /* Images for context menu icons */
@@ -93,7 +92,9 @@ MessagesDialog::MessagesDialog(QWidget *parent)
 {
   /* Invoke the Qt Designer generated object setup routine */
   ui.setupUi(this);
-  
+
+  m_bProcessSettings = false;
+
   connect( ui.messagestreeView, SIGNAL( customContextMenuRequested( QPoint ) ), this, SLOT( messageslistWidgetCostumPopupMenu( QPoint ) ) );
   connect( ui.msgList, SIGNAL( customContextMenuRequested( QPoint ) ), this, SLOT( msgfilelistWidgetCostumPopupMenu( QPoint ) ) );
   connect( ui.messagestreeView, SIGNAL(clicked ( const QModelIndex &) ) , this, SLOT( clicked( const QModelIndex & ) ) );
@@ -245,37 +246,45 @@ MessagesDialog::~MessagesDialog()
 
 void MessagesDialog::processSettings(bool bLoad)
 {
+    m_bProcessSettings = true;
+
     QHeaderView *msgwheader = ui.messagestreeView->header () ;
 
-    RSettings settings(QString("MessageDialog"));
+    Settings->beginGroup(QString("MessageDialog"));
 
     if (bLoad) {
         // load settings
 
         // expandFiles
-        bool bValue = settings.value("expandFiles", true).toBool();
+        bool bValue = Settings->value("expandFiles", true).toBool();
         ui.expandFilesButton->setChecked(bValue);
         ui.msgList->setVisible(bValue);
         togglefileview_internal();
 
         // filterColumn
-        int nValue = FilterColumnToComboBox(settings.value("filterColumn", true).toInt());
+        int nValue = FilterColumnToComboBox(Settings->value("filterColumn", true).toInt());
         ui.filterColumnComboBox->setCurrentIndex(nValue);
 
         // state of message tree
-        msgwheader->restoreState(settings.value("MessageTree").toByteArray());
+        msgwheader->restoreState(Settings->value("MessageTree").toByteArray());
 
         // state of splitter
-        ui.msgSplitter_2->restoreState(settings.value("Splitter2").toByteArray());
+        ui.msgSplitter->restoreState(Settings->value("Splitter").toByteArray());
+        ui.msgSplitter_2->restoreState(Settings->value("Splitter2").toByteArray());
     } else {
         // save settings
 
         // state of message tree
-        settings.setValue("MessageTree", msgwheader->saveState());
+        Settings->setValue("MessageTree", msgwheader->saveState());
 
         // state of splitter
-        settings.setValue("Splitter2", ui.msgSplitter_2->saveState());
+        Settings->setValue("Splitter", ui.msgSplitter->saveState());
+        Settings->setValue("Splitter2", ui.msgSplitter_2->saveState());
     }
+
+    Settings->endGroup();
+
+    m_bProcessSettings = false;
 }
 
 // replaced by shortcut
@@ -582,8 +591,7 @@ void MessagesDialog::togglefileview_internal()
 void MessagesDialog::togglefileview()
 {
     // save state of files view
-    RSettings settings(QString("MessageDialog"));
-    settings.setValue("expandFiles", ui.expandFilesButton->isChecked());
+    Settings->setValueToGroup("MessageDialog", "expandFiles", ui.expandFilesButton->isChecked());
 
     togglefileview_internal();
 }
@@ -1341,15 +1349,17 @@ void MessagesDialog::buttonsicononly()
     ui.printbutton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonIconOnly);
     ui.viewtoolButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonIconOnly);
 
-    RSettings settings(QString("MessageDialog"));
+    Settings->beginGroup(QString("MessageDialog"));
 
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye1",ui.newmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye2",ui.removemessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye3",ui.replymessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye4",ui.replyallmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye5",ui.forwardmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye6",ui.printbutton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye7",ui.viewtoolButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye1",ui.newmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye2",ui.removemessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye3",ui.replymessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye4",ui.replyallmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye5",ui.forwardmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye6",ui.printbutton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye7",ui.viewtoolButton->toolButtonStyle());
+
+    Settings->endGroup();
 }
 
 void MessagesDialog::buttonstextbesideicon()
@@ -1362,23 +1372,21 @@ void MessagesDialog::buttonstextbesideicon()
     ui.printbutton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextBesideIcon);
     ui.viewtoolButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextBesideIcon);
 
-    RSettings settings(QString("MessageDialog"));
+    Settings->beginGroup(QString("MessageDialog"));
 
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye1",ui.newmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye2",ui.removemessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye3",ui.replymessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye4",ui.replyallmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye5",ui.forwardmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye6",ui.printbutton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye7",ui.viewtoolButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye1",ui.newmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye2",ui.removemessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye3",ui.replymessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye4",ui.replyallmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye5",ui.forwardmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye6",ui.printbutton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye7",ui.viewtoolButton->toolButtonStyle());
+
+    Settings->endGroup();
 }
 
 void MessagesDialog::buttonstextundericon()
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-
-    settings.beginGroup("MessageDialog");
-
     ui.newmessageButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
     ui.removemessageButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
     ui.replymessageButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
@@ -1387,24 +1395,24 @@ void MessagesDialog::buttonstextundericon()
     ui.printbutton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
     ui.viewtoolButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
 
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye1",ui.newmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye2",ui.removemessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye3",ui.replymessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye4",ui.replyallmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye5",ui.forwardmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye6",ui.printbutton->toolButtonStyle());
-    settings.setValue("ToolButon_Stlye7",ui.viewtoolButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->beginGroup("MessageDialog");
 
-    settings.endGroup();
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye1",ui.newmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye2",ui.removemessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye3",ui.replymessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye4",ui.replyallmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye5",ui.forwardmessageButton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye6",ui.printbutton->toolButtonStyle());
+    Settings->setValue("ToolButon_Stlye7",ui.viewtoolButton->toolButtonStyle());
+
+    Settings->endGroup();
 }
 
 void MessagesDialog::loadToolButtonsettings()
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
+    Settings->beginGroup("MessageDialog");
 
-    settings.beginGroup("MessageDialog");
-
-    if(settings.value("ToolButon_Stlye1","0").toInt() == 0)
+    if(Settings->value("ToolButon_Stlye1","0").toInt() == 0)
     {
     qDebug() << "ToolButon IconOnly";
     ui.newmessageButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonIconOnly);
@@ -1416,7 +1424,7 @@ void MessagesDialog::loadToolButtonsettings()
     ui.viewtoolButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonIconOnly);
     }
 
-    else if (settings.value("ToolButon_Stlye1","2").toInt() ==2)
+    else if (Settings->value("ToolButon_Stlye1","2").toInt() ==2)
     {
     qDebug() << "ToolButon TextBesideIcon";
     ui.newmessageButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextBesideIcon);
@@ -1428,7 +1436,7 @@ void MessagesDialog::loadToolButtonsettings()
     ui.viewtoolButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextBesideIcon);
     }
 
-    else if(settings.value("ToolButon_Stlye1","3").toInt() ==3)
+    else if(Settings->value("ToolButon_Stlye1","3").toInt() ==3)
     {
     qDebug() << "ToolButton TextUnderIcon";
     ui.newmessageButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
@@ -1440,7 +1448,7 @@ void MessagesDialog::loadToolButtonsettings()
     ui.viewtoolButton->setToolButtonStyle(Qt::ToolButtonTextUnderIcon);
     }
 
-    settings.endGroup();
+    Settings->endGroup();
 }
 
 void MessagesDialog::filterRegExpChanged()
@@ -1462,6 +1470,10 @@ void MessagesDialog::filterRegExpChanged()
 
 void MessagesDialog::filterColumnChanged()
 {
+    if (m_bProcessSettings) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     int nFilterColumn = FilterColumnFromComboBox(ui.filterColumnComboBox->currentIndex());
     if (nFilterColumn == COLUMN_CONTENT) {
         // need content ... refill
@@ -1470,8 +1482,7 @@ void MessagesDialog::filterColumnChanged()
     proxyModel->setFilterKeyColumn(nFilterColumn);
 
     // save index
-    RSettings settings(QString("MessageDialog"));
-    settings.setValue("filterColumn", nFilterColumn);
+    Settings->setValueToGroup("MessageDialog", "filterColumn", nFilterColumn);
 }
 
 void MessagesDialog::updateMessageSummaryList()
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h
index a1f3e9baf..09105acc7 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ private slots:
   void clearFilter();
 
 private:
-	class QStandardItemModel *MessagesModel;
+  class QStandardItemModel *MessagesModel;
   QSortFilterProxyModel *proxyModel;
 
   bool getCurrentMsg(std::string &cid, std::string &mid);
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ private:
 
   void processSettings(bool bLoad);
 
+  bool m_bProcessSettings;
+
   std::string mCurrCertId;
   std::string mCurrMsgId;
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessengerWindow.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessengerWindow.cpp
index e796c4947..6cd0c4c96 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessengerWindow.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessengerWindow.cpp
@@ -804,8 +804,7 @@ void MessengerWindow::show()
 
 void MessengerWindow::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
 {
-	//RshareSettings config;
-	//config.saveWidgetInformation(this);
+	//Settings->saveWidgetInformation(this);
 
     hide();
     event->ignore();
@@ -913,12 +912,7 @@ void MessengerWindow::loadmystatusmessage()
 /** Save own status message */
 void  MessengerWindow::savestatusmessage()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("Profile");
-
-    settings.setValue("StatusMessage",ui.messagelineEdit->text());
-
-  settings.endGroup();
+  Settings->setValueToGroup("Profile", "StatusMessage",ui.messagelineEdit->text());
 	
   rsMsgs->setCustomStateString(ui.messagelineEdit->text().toStdString());
 }
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NetworkDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NetworkDialog.cpp
index 89cce8f2c..b79bab75e 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NetworkDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NetworkDialog.cpp
@@ -808,46 +808,31 @@ void NetworkDialog::updateNetworkStatus()
 
 void NetworkDialog::on_actionTabsnorth_activated()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("NetworkDialog");
-	
   ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::North);
   
-  settings.setValue("TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
-  settings.endGroup();
+  Settings->setValueToGroup("NetworkDialog", "TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
 }
 
 void NetworkDialog::on_actionTabssouth_activated()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("NetworkDialog");
-
   ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::South);
-  
-  settings.setValue("TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
-  settings.endGroup();
+
+  Settings->setValueToGroup("NetworkDialog", "TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
+
 }
 
 void NetworkDialog::on_actionTabswest_activated()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("NetworkDialog");
-
   ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::West);
-  
-  settings.setValue("TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
-  settings.endGroup();
+
+  Settings->setValueToGroup("NetworkDialog", "TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
 }
 
 void NetworkDialog::on_actionTabsright_activated()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("NetworkDialog");
-	
   ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::East);
-  
-  settings.setValue("TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
-  settings.endGroup();
+
+  Settings->setValueToGroup("NetworkDialog", "TabWidget_Position",ui.networkTab->tabPosition());
 }
 
 void NetworkDialog::on_actionTabsTriangular_activated()
@@ -864,29 +849,28 @@ void NetworkDialog::on_actionTabsRounded_activated()
 
 void NetworkDialog::loadtabsettings()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("NetworkDialog");
+  Settings->beginGroup("NetworkDialog");
 
-  if(settings.value("TabWidget_Position","0").toInt() == 0)
+  if(Settings->value("TabWidget_Position","0").toInt() == 0)
   {
     qDebug() << "Tab North";
     ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::North);
   }
-  else if (settings.value("TabWidget_Position","1").toInt() == 1)
+  else if (Settings->value("TabWidget_Position","1").toInt() == 1)
   {
     qDebug() << "Tab South";
     ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::South);
   }
-  else if (settings.value("TabWidget_Position","2").toInt() ==2)
+  else if (Settings->value("TabWidget_Position","2").toInt() ==2)
   {
     qDebug() << "Tab West";
     ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::West);
   }
-  else if(settings.value("TabWidget_Position","3").toInt() ==3)
+  else if(Settings->value("TabWidget_Position","3").toInt() ==3)
   {
     qDebug() << "Tab East";
     ui.networkTab->setTabPosition(QTabWidget::East);
   }
 
-  settings.endGroup();
+  Settings->endGroup();
 }
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NewsFeed.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NewsFeed.cpp
index 2d6b46c11..db728e846 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NewsFeed.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/NewsFeed.cpp
@@ -74,9 +74,7 @@ void NewsFeed::updateFeed()
 	if (!rsNotify)
 		return;
 
-  	/** A RshareSettings object used for saving/loading settings */
-  	RshareSettings settings;
-	uint flags = settings.getNewsFeedFlags();
+	uint flags = Settings->getNewsFeedFlags();
 
 	/* check for new messages */
 	RsFeedItem fi;
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp
index 92aaf5fc7..79cceb83a 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp
@@ -149,20 +149,20 @@ PeersDialog::PeersDialog(QWidget *parent)
   pxm.fill(_currentColor);
   ui.colorChatButton->setIcon(pxm);
 
-  RSettings settings(QString("Chat"));
-
-  mCurrentFont.fromString(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont")).toString());
+  Settings->beginGroup(QString("Chat"));
+  mCurrentFont.fromString(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont")).toString());
   ui.lineEdit->setFont(mCurrentFont);
-
+ 
   setChatInfo(tr("Welcome to RetroShare's group chat."), QString::fromUtf8("blue"));
 
-  if (settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("GroupChat_History"), true).toBool())
+  if (Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("GroupChat_History"), true).toBool())
   {
     QStringList him;
     historyKeeper.getMessages(him, "", "THIS", 8);
     foreach(QString mess, him)
     ui.msgText->append(mess);
   }  
+  Settings->endGroup();
 
   //setChatInfo(mess,  "green");
 
@@ -956,9 +956,7 @@ void PeersDialog::insertChat()
         QTextEdit *msgWidget = ui.msgText;
 	std::list<ChatInfo>::iterator it;
 
-        /** A RshareSettings object used for saving/loading settings */
-        RshareSettings settings;
-        uint chatflags = settings.getChatFlags();
+        uint chatflags = Settings->getChatFlags();
 
 	/* add in lines at the bottom */
 	for(it = newchat.begin(); it != newchat.end(); it++)
@@ -1015,10 +1013,10 @@ void PeersDialog::insertChat()
 		RsChat::embedHtml(doc, body, defEmbedAhref);
 
 		// embed smileys
-		settings.beginGroup("Chat");
-		if (settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_GroupChat"), true).toBool())
+		Settings->beginGroup("Chat");
+		if (Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_GroupChat"), true).toBool())
 			RsChat::embedHtml(doc, body, defEmbedImg);
-		settings.endGroup();
+		Settings->endGroup();
 
 		msgContents = doc.toString(-1);		// -1 removes any annoying carriage return misinterpreted by QTextEdit
 		extraTxt += msgContents;
@@ -1287,10 +1285,9 @@ void PeersDialog::setFont()
   mCurrentFont.setItalic(ui.textitalicChatButton->isChecked());
   ui.lineEdit->setFont(mCurrentFont);
   ui.lineEdit->setTextColor(_currentColor);
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("Chat");
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont"), mCurrentFont.toString());
-  settings.endGroup();
+  Settings->beginGroup("Chat");
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont"), mCurrentFont.toString());
+  Settings->endGroup();
 
 
   ui.lineEdit->setFocus();
@@ -1848,15 +1845,14 @@ void PeersDialog::setCurrentFileName(const QString &fileName)
 
 ////play sound when recv a message
 void PeersDialog::playsound(){
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    settings.beginGroup("Sound");
-        settings.beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
-            QString OnlineSound= settings.value("NewChatMessage","").toString();
-        settings.endGroup();
-        settings.beginGroup("Enable");
-             bool flag= settings.value("NewChatMessage",false).toBool();
-        settings.endGroup();
-    settings.endGroup();
+    Settings->beginGroup("Sound");
+        Settings->beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
+            QString OnlineSound = Settings->value("NewChatMessage","").toString();
+        Settings->endGroup();
+        Settings->beginGroup("Enable");
+             bool flag = Settings->value("NewChatMessage",false).toBool();
+        Settings->endGroup();
+    Settings->endGroup();
     if(!OnlineSound.isEmpty()&&flag)
         if(QSound::isAvailable())
             QSound::play(OnlineSound);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/QuickStartWizard.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/QuickStartWizard.cpp
index 30a8d1776..740f19df7 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/QuickStartWizard.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/QuickStartWizard.cpp
@@ -170,12 +170,9 @@ void QuickStartWizard::on_pushButtonSystemBack_clicked()
 
 void QuickStartWizard::on_pushButtonSystemFinish_clicked()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), startMinimized());
-
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), quitbox());
-  
-  settings.setRunRetroshareOnBoot(ui.checkBoxRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->isChecked());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), startMinimized());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), quitbox());
+  Settings->setRunRetroshareOnBoot(ui.checkBoxRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->isChecked());
   
   saveChanges();
   
@@ -356,14 +353,11 @@ bool QuickStartWizard::messageBoxOk(QString msg)
 void
 QuickStartWizard::loadGeneral()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  ui.checkBoxRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->setChecked(settings.runRetroshareOnBoot());
-
-  ui.checkBoxStartMinimized->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), false).toBool());
-
-  ui.checkBoxQuit->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), false).toBool());
+  ui.checkBoxRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->setChecked(Settings->runRetroshareOnBoot());
+  ui.checkBoxStartMinimized->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), false).toBool());
+  ui.checkBoxQuit->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), false).toBool());
   
-        //ui.checkBoxQuickWizard->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("FirstRun"), false).toBool());
+  //ui.checkBoxQuickWizard->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("FirstRun"), false).toBool());
 }
 
 bool QuickStartWizard::quitbox() const {
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SearchDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SearchDialog.cpp
index 2207fe354..e934ee465 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SearchDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SearchDialog.cpp
@@ -104,8 +104,6 @@ SearchDialog::SearchDialog(QWidget *parent)
 	initialiseFileTypeMappings();
     }
 
-    RshareSettings rsharesettings;
-
     connect(ui.toggleAdvancedSearchBtn, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(showAdvSearchDialog()));
 
     connect( ui.searchResultWidget, SIGNAL( customContextMenuRequested( QPoint ) ), this, SLOT( searchtableWidgetCostumPopupMenu( QPoint ) ) );
@@ -447,9 +445,8 @@ void SearchDialog::hideEvent(QHideEvent * event)
 void SearchDialog::toggleAdvancedSearchDialog(bool toggled)
 {
     // record the users preference for future reference
-    RshareSettings rsharesettings;
     QString key (UI_PREF_ADVANCED_SEARCH);
-    rsharesettings.setValue(key, QVariant(toggled));
+    Settings->setValue(key, QVariant(toggled));
 
     showAdvSearchDialog(toggled);
 }
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SharedFilesDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SharedFilesDialog.cpp
index f919957a2..93d6c0a6a 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SharedFilesDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SharedFilesDialog.cpp
@@ -728,19 +728,16 @@ SharedFilesDialog::fileAssotiationAction(const QString fileName)
 {
     QAction* result = 0;
 
-    RshareSettings* settings = new RshareSettings();
-    //QSettings* settings= new QSettings(qApp->applicationDirPath()+"/sett.ini",
-    //                            QSettings::IniFormat);
-    settings->beginGroup("FileAssotiations");
+    Settings->beginGroup("FileAssotiations");
 
     QString key = AddFileAssociationDialog::cleanFileType(currentFile) ;
-    if ( settings->contains(key) )
+    if ( Settings->contains(key) )
     {
         result = new QAction(QIcon(IMAGE_PLAY), tr( "Open File" ), this );
         connect( result , SIGNAL( triggered() ),
                  this, SLOT( runCommandForFile() ) );
 
-        currentCommand = (settings->value( key )).toString();
+        currentCommand = (Settings->value( key )).toString();
     }
     else
     {
@@ -750,7 +747,7 @@ SharedFilesDialog::fileAssotiationAction(const QString fileName)
                  this,    SLOT(   tryToAddNewAssotiation() ) );
     }
 
-    delete settings;
+    Settings->endGroup();
 
     return result;
 }
@@ -783,15 +780,10 @@ SharedFilesDialog::tryToAddNewAssotiation()
 
     if (ti==QDialog::Accepted)
     {
-        RshareSettings settings;
-        //QSettings settings( qApp->applicationDirPath()+"/sett.ini",
-        //                    QSettings::IniFormat);
-        settings.beginGroup("FileAssotiations");
-
         QString currType = afad.resultFileType() ;
         QString currCmd = afad.resultCommand() ;
 
-        settings.setValue(currType, currCmd);
+        Settings->setValueToGroup("FileAssotiations", currType, currCmd);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SoundManager.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SoundManager.cpp
index a76199c6d..da9454f8f 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SoundManager.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/SoundManager.cpp
@@ -78,26 +78,23 @@ void SoundManager::event_NewChatMessage()
 
 void SoundManager::reInit()
 {
-	RshareSettings settings;
+        Settings->beginGroup("Sound");
+		Settings->beginGroup("Enable");
+			enable_eventUser_go_Online = Settings->value("User_go_Online",false).toBool();
+			enable_eventUser_go_Offline = Settings->value("User_go_Offline",false).toBool();
+			enable_eventFileSend_Finished = Settings->value("FileSend_Finished",false).toBool();
+			enable_eventFileRecive_Incoming = Settings->value("FileRecive_Incoming",false).toBool();
+			enable_eventFileRecive_Finished = Settings->value("FileRecive_Finished",false).toBool();
+			enable_eventNewChatMessage = Settings->value("NewChatMessage",false).toBool();
+		Settings->endGroup();
 
-        settings.beginGroup("Sound");
-		settings.beginGroup("Enable");
-			enable_eventUser_go_Online = settings.value("User_go_Online",false).toBool();
-			enable_eventUser_go_Offline = settings.value("User_go_Offline",false).toBool();
-			enable_eventFileSend_Finished = settings.value("FileSend_Finished",false).toBool();
-			enable_eventFileRecive_Incoming = settings.value("FileRecive_Incoming",false).toBool();
-			enable_eventFileRecive_Finished = settings.value("FileRecive_Finished",false).toBool();
-			enable_eventNewChatMessage = settings.value("NewChatMessage",false).toBool();
-		settings.endGroup();
-
-		settings.beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
-		SoundFileUser_go_Online = settings.value("User_go_Online","").toString();
-		SoundFileUser_go_Offline =settings.value("User_go_Offline","").toString();
-		SoundFileFileSend_Finished = settings.value("FileSend_Finished","").toString();
-		SoundFileFileRecive_Incoming = settings.value("FileRecive_Incoming","").toString();
-		SoundFileFileRecive_Finished = settings.value("FileRecive_Finished","").toString();
-		SoundFileNewChatMessage = settings.value("NewChatMessage","").toString();
-		settings.endGroup();
-	settings.endGroup();
+		Settings->beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
+		SoundFileUser_go_Online = Settings->value("User_go_Online","").toString();
+		SoundFileUser_go_Offline = Settings->value("User_go_Offline","").toString();
+		SoundFileFileSend_Finished = Settings->value("FileSend_Finished","").toString();
+		SoundFileFileRecive_Incoming = Settings->value("FileRecive_Incoming","").toString();
+		SoundFileFileRecive_Finished = Settings->value("FileRecive_Finished","").toString();
+		SoundFileNewChatMessage = Settings->value("NewChatMessage","").toString();
+		Settings->endGroup();
+	Settings->endGroup();
 }
-
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/StartDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/StartDialog.cpp
index 55f4ab017..4f3896686 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/StartDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/StartDialog.cpp
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ StartDialog::StartDialog(QWidget *parent, Qt::WFlags flags)
   ui.setupUi(this);
 
   /* Create Bandwidth Graph related QObjects */
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.loadWidgetInformation(this);
+  Settings->loadWidgetInformation(this);
  
   _rsLogoBar = NULL;
  
@@ -109,8 +108,7 @@ void StartDialog::show()
 
 void StartDialog::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
 {
- RshareSettings settings;
- settings.saveWidgetInformation(this);
+ Settings->saveWidgetInformation(this);
 
  QWidget::closeEvent(event);
 }
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp
index f20561fd3..9487b2161 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp
@@ -56,9 +56,7 @@ PopupChatDialog::PopupChatDialog(std::string id, std::string name,
   /* Invoke Qt Designer generated QObject setup routine */
   ui.setupUi(this);
   
-  RshareSettings settings;
-
-  settings.loadWidgetInformation(this);
+  Settings->loadWidgetInformation(this);
   this->move(qrand()%100, qrand()%100); //avoid to stack multiple popup chat windows on the same position
 
   
@@ -229,8 +227,7 @@ void PopupChatDialog::flash()
 
 void PopupChatDialog::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    settings.saveWidgetInformation(this);
+    Settings->saveWidgetInformation(this);
 
     hide();
     event->ignore();
@@ -291,8 +288,7 @@ void PopupChatDialog::addChatMsg(ChatInfo *ci)
 std::cout << "PopupChatDialog:addChatMsg message : " << message.toStdString() << std::endl;
 #endif
 
-  RSettings settings(QString("Chat"));
-  if (settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_PrivatChat"), true).toBool())
+  if (Settings->valueFromGroup(QString("Chat"), QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_PrivatChat"), true).toBool())
   {
 	QHashIterator<QString, QString> i(smileys);
 	while(i.hasNext())
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.cpp
index d2e4d6d0d..5ec396436 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.cpp
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ CreateForumMsg::CreateForumMsg(std::string fId, std::string pId)
   ui.setupUi(this);
   setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose, true);
 
-  RshareSettings config;
-  config.loadWidgetInformation(this);
+  Settings->loadWidgetInformation(this);
   
   connect( ui.forumMessage, SIGNAL( customContextMenuRequested( QPoint ) ), this, SLOT( forumMessageCostumPopupMenu( QPoint ) ) );
   
@@ -179,14 +178,14 @@ void  CreateForumMsg::createMsg()
 	close();
 }
 
+void CreateForumMsg::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
+{
+    Settings->saveWidgetInformation(this);
+}
 
 void CreateForumMsg::cancelMsg()
 {
 	close();
-	return;
-	        
-	RshareSettings config;
-	config.saveWidgetInformation(this);
 }
 
 void CreateForumMsg::loadEmoticonsForums()
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.h
index a462a9458..c8a623e55 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/forums/CreateForumMsg.h
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ private slots:
 	void addSmileys();
 	void addFile();
 	void addAttachment(std::string);
-	
+
+protected:
+   void closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event);
   
 private:
    /** Define the popup menus for the Context menu */
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/help/browser/helpbrowser.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/help/browser/helpbrowser.cpp
index a3d487d02..7f656b86d 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/help/browser/helpbrowser.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/help/browser/helpbrowser.cpp
@@ -56,8 +56,6 @@
 HelpBrowser::HelpBrowser(QWidget *parent)
  : RWindow("HelpBrowser", parent)
 {
-  RshareSettings _settings;
-
   /* Invoke Qt Designer generated QObject setup routine */
   ui.setupUi(this);
 #if defined(Q_WS_MAC)
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/ChanMsgDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/ChanMsgDialog.cpp
index de14c02df..c7574c0a4 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/ChanMsgDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/msgs/ChanMsgDialog.cpp
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ ChanMsgDialog::ChanMsgDialog(bool msg, QWidget *parent, Qt::WFlags flags)
     setupViewActions();
     setupInsertActions();
   
-    RshareSettings config;
-    config.loadWidgetInformation(this);
+    Settings->loadWidgetInformation(this);
 
     setAttribute ( Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose, true );
    
@@ -227,8 +226,7 @@ void ChanMsgDialog::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
 		event->ignore();
 		hide();
     
-		RshareSettings config;
-		config.saveWidgetInformation(this);
+		Settings->saveWidgetInformation(this);
     }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/notifyqt.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/notifyqt.cpp
index 0fa71de56..beeeea6f4 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/notifyqt.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/notifyqt.cpp
@@ -242,8 +242,7 @@ void NotifyQt::UpdateGUI()
 		
 		if (rsNotify->NotifyPopupMessage(type, id, msg))
 		{
-			RshareSettings settings;
-			uint popupflags = settings.getNotifyFlags();
+			uint popupflags = Settings->getNotifyFlags();
 
 			/* id the name */
 			std::string name = rsPeers->getPeerName(id);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/profile/StatusMessage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/profile/StatusMessage.cpp
index ee960fd01..ff4e38e92 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/profile/StatusMessage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/profile/StatusMessage.cpp
@@ -61,13 +61,8 @@ void StatusMessage::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
 /** Saves the changes on this page */
 void StatusMessage::save()
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    settings.beginGroup("Profile");
+    Settings->setValueToGroup("Profile", "StatusMessage",ui.txt_StatusMessage->text());
 
-        settings.setValue("StatusMessage",ui.txt_StatusMessage->text());
-
-    settings.endGroup();
-	
 	rsMsgs->setCustomStateString(ui.txt_StatusMessage->text().toStdString());
 
 	close();
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/AppearancePage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/AppearancePage.cpp
index 17263a1d1..5b2972476 100755
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/AppearancePage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/AppearancePage.cpp
@@ -69,10 +69,9 @@ AppearancePage::save(QString &errmsg)
 	QString languageCode =
     LanguageSupport::languageCode(ui.cmboLanguage->currentText());
 
-        RshareSettings settings;
-        settings.setLanguageCode(languageCode);
-        settings.setInterfaceStyle(ui.cmboStyle->currentText());
-        settings.setSheetName(ui.styleSheetCombo->currentText());
+        Settings->setLanguageCode(languageCode);
+        Settings->setInterfaceStyle(ui.cmboStyle->currentText());
+        Settings->setSheetName(ui.styleSheetCombo->currentText());
 
     /* Set to new style */
 	Rshare::setStyle(ui.cmboStyle->currentText());
@@ -85,21 +84,19 @@ AppearancePage::save(QString &errmsg)
 void
 AppearancePage::load()
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-
-        int index = ui.cmboLanguage->findData(settings.getLanguageCode());
+    int index = ui.cmboLanguage->findData(Settings->getLanguageCode());
 	ui.cmboLanguage->setCurrentIndex(index);
 
 	index = ui.cmboStyle->findData(Rshare::style().toLower());
 	ui.cmboStyle->setCurrentIndex(index);
 
-    ui.styleSheetCombo->setCurrentIndex(ui.styleSheetCombo->findText(settings.getSheetName()));
+    ui.styleSheetCombo->setCurrentIndex(ui.styleSheetCombo->findText(Settings->getSheetName()));
 
     /** load saved internal styleSheet **/
     //QFile file(":/qss/" + (settings.getSheetName().toLower()) + ".qss");
 
     /** load saved extern Stylesheets **/
-    QFile file(QApplication::applicationDirPath() + "/qss/" + (settings.getSheetName().toLower()) + ".qss");
+    QFile file(QApplication::applicationDirPath() + "/qss/" + (Settings->getSheetName().toLower()) + ".qss");
 
     file.open(QFile::ReadOnly);
     QString styleSheet = QLatin1String(file.readAll());
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/ChatPage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/ChatPage.cpp
index cbabccb59..443916f24 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/ChatPage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/ChatPage.cpp
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@
 #include "rsiface/rspeers.h" //for rsPeers variable
 #include "rsiface/rsiface.h"
 
+#include "rsharesettings.h"
+
 #include <QtGui>
 
 #include <rshare.h>
 #include "ChatPage.h"
 
-#include "rsettings.h"
-
 /** Constructor */
 ChatPage::ChatPage(QWidget * parent, Qt::WFlags flags)
     : ConfigPage(parent, flags)
@@ -52,12 +52,14 @@ ChatPage::closeEvent (QCloseEvent * event)
 bool
 ChatPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 {
-  RSettings settings(QString("Chat"));
+  Settings->beginGroup(QString("Chat"));
 
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_PrivatChat"), emotePrivatChat());
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_GroupChat"), emoteGroupChat());
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("GroupChat_History"), groupchatHistory());
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont"), fontTempChat.toString());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_PrivatChat"), emotePrivatChat());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_GroupChat"), emoteGroupChat());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("GroupChat_History"), groupchatHistory());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont"), fontTempChat.toString());
+
+  Settings->endGroup();
 
   return true;
 }
@@ -66,14 +68,16 @@ ChatPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 void
 ChatPage::load()
 {
-  RSettings settings(QString("Chat"));
+  Settings->beginGroup(QString("Chat"));
 
-  ui.checkBox_emoteprivchat->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_PrivatChat"), true).toBool());
-  ui.checkBox_emotegroupchat->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_GroupChat"), true).toBool());
-  ui.checkBox_groupchathistory->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("GroupChat_History"), true).toBool());
+  ui.checkBox_emoteprivchat->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_PrivatChat"), true).toBool());
+  ui.checkBox_emotegroupchat->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("Emoteicons_GroupChat"), true).toBool());
+  ui.checkBox_groupchathistory->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("GroupChat_History"), true).toBool());
+
+  fontTempChat.fromString(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont")).toString());
+
+  Settings->endGroup();
 
-  fontTempChat.fromString(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("ChatScreenFont")).toString());
-  
   ui.labelChatFontPreview->setText(fontTempChat.rawName());
   ui.labelChatFontPreview->setFont(fontTempChat);
 }
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/FileAssociationsPage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/FileAssociationsPage.cpp
index ce9ccef7e..cba53d501 100755
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/FileAssociationsPage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/FileAssociationsPage.cpp
@@ -166,12 +166,8 @@ FileAssociationsPage::save (QString &errmsg)
 void
 FileAssociationsPage::load()
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-//     QSettings* settings = new QSettings( qApp->applicationDirPath()+"/sett.ini",
-//                                          QSettings::IniFormat);
-//
-//     settings.beginGroup("FileAssotiations");
-    QStringList keys = settings.allKeys();
+//     Settings->beginGroup("FileAssotiations");
+    QStringList keys = Settings->allKeys();
 
     table->setRowCount( keys.count() );
 
@@ -179,7 +175,7 @@ FileAssociationsPage::load()
     QStringList::const_iterator ki;
     for(ki=keys.constBegin(); ki!=keys.constEnd(); ki++)
     {
-        QString val = (settings.value(*ki, "")).toString();
+        QString val = (Settings->value(*ki, "")).toString();
 
         addNewItemToTable( rowi, 0, *ki );
         addNewItemToTable( rowi, 1, val );
@@ -187,7 +183,6 @@ FileAssociationsPage::load()
         rowi++;
     }
 
-    //delete settings;
     if (keys.count()==0)
     {
         removeAction->setEnabled(false);
@@ -206,8 +201,7 @@ FileAssociationsPage::remove()
     QTableWidgetItem const * titem = table->item( currentRow,0);
     QString key = (titem->data(QTableWidgetItem::Type)).toString();
 
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    settings.remove(key);
+    Settings->remove(key);
     table->removeRow( currentRow );
 
     if ( table->rowCount()==0 )
@@ -235,8 +229,7 @@ FileAssociationsPage::addnew()
         QString currCmd = afad.resultCommand() ;
 
 
-        RshareSettings settings;
-        if ( !settings.contains(currType) )//new item should be added only if
+        if ( !Settings->contains(currType) )//new item should be added only if
         {                              // it wasn't entered before.
             int nridx = table->rowCount();//new row index
             table->setRowCount(nridx+1);
@@ -257,7 +250,7 @@ FileAssociationsPage::addnew()
             }
         }
 
-        settings.setValue(currType, currCmd);
+        Settings->setValue(currType, currCmd);
 
         removeAction->setEnabled(true);
         editAction->setEnabled(true);
@@ -290,8 +283,7 @@ FileAssociationsPage::edit()
 
         titem->setData(QTableWidgetItem::Type, currCmd);
 
-        RshareSettings settings;
-        settings.setValue(currType, currCmd);
+        Settings->setValue(currType, currCmd);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/GeneralPage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/GeneralPage.cpp
index 5e87d83c0..3ad355160 100755
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/GeneralPage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/GeneralPage.cpp
@@ -55,14 +55,13 @@ GeneralPage::~GeneralPage()
 bool
 GeneralPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), startMinimized());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), startMinimized());
 
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), quit());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), quit());
   
-  settings.setValue(QString::fromUtf8("ClosetoTray"), closetoTray());
+  Settings->setValue(QString::fromUtf8("ClosetoTray"), closetoTray());
   
-  settings.setRunRetroshareOnBoot(
+  Settings->setRunRetroshareOnBoot(
   ui.chkRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->isChecked());
 
   return true;
@@ -72,14 +71,13 @@ GeneralPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 void
 GeneralPage::load()
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  ui.chkRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->setChecked(settings.runRetroshareOnBoot());
+  ui.chkRunRetroshareAtSystemStartup->setChecked(Settings->runRetroshareOnBoot());
 
-  ui.checkStartMinimized->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), false).toBool());
+  ui.checkStartMinimized->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), false).toBool());
 
-  ui.checkQuit->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), false).toBool());
+  ui.checkQuit->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("doQuit"), false).toBool());
   
-  ui.checkClosetoTray->setChecked(settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("ClosetoTray"), false).toBool());
+  ui.checkClosetoTray->setChecked(Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("ClosetoTray"), false).toBool());
 
 
 }
@@ -104,8 +102,7 @@ bool GeneralPage::closetoTray() const {
 void
 GeneralPage::toggleShowOnStartup(bool checked)
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.setShowMainWindowAtStart(checked);
+  Settings->setShowMainWindowAtStart(checked);
 }
 
 void GeneralPage::setAutoLogin(){
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/NotifyPage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/NotifyPage.cpp
index f0a86e3b2..5c3abb183 100755
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/NotifyPage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/NotifyPage.cpp
@@ -108,10 +108,9 @@ NotifyPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 	if (ui.chat_Focus->isChecked())
 		chatflags |= RS_CHAT_FOCUS;
 
-        RshareSettings settings;
-        settings.setNotifyFlags(notifyflags);
-        settings.setNewsFeedFlags(newsflags);
-        settings.setChatFlags(chatflags);
+        Settings->setNotifyFlags(notifyflags);
+        Settings->setNewsFeedFlags(newsflags);
+        Settings->setChatFlags(chatflags);
 
 	load();
  	return true;
@@ -122,11 +121,9 @@ NotifyPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 void NotifyPage::load()
 {
 	/* extract from rsNotify the flags */
-        RshareSettings settings;
-
-        uint notifyflags = settings.getNotifyFlags();
-        uint newsflags = settings.getNewsFeedFlags();
-        uint chatflags   = settings.getChatFlags();
+        uint notifyflags = Settings->getNotifyFlags();
+        uint newsflags = Settings->getNewsFeedFlags();
+        uint chatflags = Settings->getChatFlags();
 
 	ui.popup_Connect->setChecked(notifyflags & RS_POPUP_CONNECT);
 	ui.popup_NewMsg->setChecked(notifyflags & RS_POPUP_MSG);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/SoundPage.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/SoundPage.cpp
index 5e66a7aa8..facbd18b7 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/SoundPage.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/SoundPage.cpp
@@ -56,25 +56,24 @@ SoundPage::~SoundPage()
 bool
 SoundPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 {
-  RshareSettings settings;
-  settings.beginGroup("Sound");
-                settings.beginGroup("Enable");
-                        settings.setValue("User_go_Online",ui.checkBoxSound->isChecked());
+  Settings->beginGroup("Sound");
+                Settings->beginGroup("Enable");
+                        Settings->setValue("User_go_Online",ui.checkBoxSound->isChecked());
                         //settings.setValue("User_go_Offline",ui.checkBoxSound_2->isChecked());
-                        settings.setValue("FileSend_Finished",ui.checkBoxSound_3->isChecked());
-                        settings.setValue("FileRecive_Incoming",ui.checkBoxSound_4->isChecked());
-                        settings.setValue("FileRecive_Finished",ui.checkBoxSound_5->isChecked());
-                        settings.setValue("NewChatMessage",ui.checkBoxSound_6->isChecked());
-                        settings.endGroup();
-                settings.beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
-                        settings.setValue("User_go_Online",ui.txt_SoundFile->text());
+                        Settings->setValue("FileSend_Finished",ui.checkBoxSound_3->isChecked());
+                        Settings->setValue("FileRecive_Incoming",ui.checkBoxSound_4->isChecked());
+                        Settings->setValue("FileRecive_Finished",ui.checkBoxSound_5->isChecked());
+                        Settings->setValue("NewChatMessage",ui.checkBoxSound_6->isChecked());
+                        Settings->endGroup();
+                Settings->beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
+                        Settings->setValue("User_go_Online",ui.txt_SoundFile->text());
                         //settings.setValue("User_go_Offline",ui.txt_SoundFile2->text());
-                        settings.setValue("FileSend_Finished",ui.txt_SoundFile3->text());
-                        settings.setValue("FileRecive_Incoming",ui.txt_SoundFile4->text());
-                        settings.setValue("FileRecive_Finished",ui.txt_SoundFile5->text());
-                        settings.setValue("NewChatMessage",ui.txt_SoundFile6->text());
-                settings.endGroup();
-        settings.endGroup();
+                        Settings->setValue("FileSend_Finished",ui.txt_SoundFile3->text());
+                        Settings->setValue("FileRecive_Incoming",ui.txt_SoundFile4->text());
+                        Settings->setValue("FileRecive_Finished",ui.txt_SoundFile5->text());
+                        Settings->setValue("NewChatMessage",ui.txt_SoundFile6->text());
+                Settings->endGroup();
+        Settings->endGroup();
 
 	return true;
 }
@@ -85,15 +84,14 @@ SoundPage::save(QString &errmsg)
 void
 SoundPage::load()
 {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-        settings.beginGroup("Sound");
-                settings.beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
-                        ui.txt_SoundFile->setText(settings.value("User_go_Online","").toString());
+        Settings->beginGroup("Sound");
+                Settings->beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
+                        ui.txt_SoundFile->setText(Settings->value("User_go_Online","").toString());
                         //ui.txt_SoundFile2->setText(settings.value("User_go_Offline","").toString());
-                        ui.txt_SoundFile3->setText(settings.value("FileSend_Finished","").toString());
-                        ui.txt_SoundFile4->setText(settings.value("FileRecive_Incoming","").toString());
-                        ui.txt_SoundFile5->setText(settings.value("FileRecive_Finished","").toString());
-                        ui.txt_SoundFile6->setText(settings.value("NewChatMessage","").toString());
+                        ui.txt_SoundFile3->setText(Settings->value("FileSend_Finished","").toString());
+                        ui.txt_SoundFile4->setText(Settings->value("FileRecive_Incoming","").toString());
+                        ui.txt_SoundFile5->setText(Settings->value("FileRecive_Finished","").toString());
+                        ui.txt_SoundFile6->setText(Settings->value("NewChatMessage","").toString());
 
 			if(!ui.txt_SoundFile->text().isEmpty())ui.checkBoxSound->setEnabled(true);
                         //if(!ui.txt_SoundFile2->text().isEmpty())ui.checkBoxSound_2->setEnabled(true);
@@ -102,17 +100,17 @@ SoundPage::load()
 			if(!ui.txt_SoundFile5->text().isEmpty())ui.checkBoxSound_5->setEnabled(true);
 			if(!ui.txt_SoundFile6->text().isEmpty())ui.checkBoxSound_6->setEnabled(true);
 
-                settings.endGroup();
+                Settings->endGroup();
 
-                settings.beginGroup("Enable");
-                        ui.checkBoxSound->setChecked(settings.value("User_go_Online",false).toBool());
+                Settings->beginGroup("Enable");
+                        ui.checkBoxSound->setChecked(Settings->value("User_go_Online",false).toBool());
                         //ui.checkBoxSound_2->setChecked(settings.value("User_go_Offline",false).toBool());
-                        ui.checkBoxSound_3->setChecked(settings.value("FileSend_Finished",false).toBool());
-                        ui.checkBoxSound_4->setChecked(settings.value("FileRecive_Incoming",false).toBool());
-                        ui.checkBoxSound_5->setChecked(settings.value("FileRecive_Finished",false).toBool());
-                        ui.checkBoxSound_6->setChecked(settings.value("NewChatMessage",false).toBool());
-                settings.endGroup();
-        settings.endGroup();
+                        ui.checkBoxSound_3->setChecked(Settings->value("FileSend_Finished",false).toBool());
+                        ui.checkBoxSound_4->setChecked(Settings->value("FileRecive_Incoming",false).toBool());
+                        ui.checkBoxSound_5->setChecked(Settings->value("FileRecive_Finished",false).toBool());
+                        ui.checkBoxSound_6->setChecked(Settings->value("NewChatMessage",false).toBool());
+                Settings->endGroup();
+        Settings->endGroup();
 }
 
 void SoundPage::on_cmd_openFile()
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.cpp
index 60b21c021..a9ea1b20f 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.cpp
@@ -64,6 +64,22 @@ RSettings::setValue(const QString &key, const QVariant &val)
     QSettings::setValue(key, val);
 }
 
+QVariant RSettings::valueFromGroup(const QString &group, const QString &key, const QVariant &defaultVal)
+{
+    beginGroup(group);
+    QVariant val = value(key, defaultVal);
+    endGroup();
+
+    return val;
+}
+
+void RSettings::setValueToGroup(const QString &group, const QString &key, const QVariant &val)
+{
+    beginGroup(group);
+    setValue(key, val);
+    endGroup();
+}
+
 /** Sets the default setting for <b>key</b> to <b>val</b>. */
 void
 RSettings::setDefault(const QString &key, const QVariant &val)
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.h
index 8461b9d94..3dc276661 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsettings.h
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ public:
   /** Sets the value associated with <b>key</b> to <b>val</b>. */
   virtual void setValue(const QString &key, const QVariant &val);
 
+  virtual QVariant valueFromGroup(const QString &group, const QString &key,
+                         const QVariant &defaultVal = QVariant());
+  virtual void setValueToGroup(const QString &group, const QString &key, const QVariant &val);
+
 protected:
   /** Sets the default setting for <b>key</b> to <b>val</b>. */
   void setDefault(const QString &key, const QVariant &val);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.cpp
index f53167a6e..b610a5143 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.cpp
@@ -69,8 +69,14 @@
 #define DEFAULT_BWGRAPH_FILTER          (BWGRAPH_SEND|BWGRAPH_REC)
 #define DEFAULT_BWGRAPH_ALWAYS_ON_TOP   false
 
-RshareSettings::RshareSettings(std::string filename) : RSettings(filename) {
-    initSettings();
+// the one and only global settings object
+RshareSettings *Settings = NULL;
+
+/*static*/ void RshareSettings::Create ()
+{
+    if (Settings == NULL) {
+        Settings = new RshareSettings ();
+    }
 }
 
 /** Default Constructor */
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.h
index 6439c6897..68694ce90 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/settings/rsharesettings.h
@@ -48,13 +48,8 @@ class RshareSettings : public RSettings
 {
   
 public:
-  /** Default constructor. */
-  RshareSettings();
-
-  /** Default constructor. */
-  RshareSettings(std::string filename);
-
-  void initSettings();
+  /* create settings object */
+  static void Create ();
 
   /** Gets the currently preferred language code for RShare. */
   QString getLanguageCode();
@@ -119,22 +114,27 @@ public:
   uint getNotifyFlags();
   void setNotifyFlags(uint flags);
 
+  //! Save placement, state and size information of a window.
+  void saveWidgetInformation(QWidget *widget);
 
-        //! Save placement, state and size information of a window.
-        void saveWidgetInformation(QWidget *widget);
-        
-        //! Load placement, state and size information of a window.
-        void loadWidgetInformation(QWidget *widget);
-        
-        //! Method overload. Save window and toolbar information.
-        void saveWidgetInformation(QMainWindow *widget, QToolBar *toolBar);
+  //! Load placement, state and size information of a window.
+  void loadWidgetInformation(QWidget *widget);
 
-        //! Method overload. Restore window and toolbar information.
-        void loadWidgetInformation(QMainWindow *widget, QToolBar *toolBar);
+  //! Method overload. Save window and toolbar information.
+  void saveWidgetInformation(QMainWindow *widget, QToolBar *toolBar);
 
+  //! Method overload. Restore window and toolbar information.
+  void loadWidgetInformation(QMainWindow *widget, QToolBar *toolBar);
 
+protected:
+  /** Default constructor. */
+  RshareSettings();
 
+  void initSettings();
 };
 
+// the one and only global settings object
+extern RshareSettings *Settings;
+
 #endif
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/toaster/OnlineToaster.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/toaster/OnlineToaster.cpp
index 0ea66b0ee..014529bea 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/toaster/OnlineToaster.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/toaster/OnlineToaster.cpp
@@ -68,15 +68,14 @@ void OnlineToaster::chatButtonSlot() {
 }
 
 void OnlineToaster::play(){
-    RshareSettings settings;
-        settings.beginGroup("Sound");
-            settings.beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
-                   QString OnlineSound= settings.value("User_go_Online","").toString();
-        settings.endGroup();
-        settings.beginGroup("Enable");
-                  bool flag= settings.value("User_go_Online",false).toBool();
-        settings.endGroup();
-    settings.endGroup();
+        Settings->beginGroup("Sound");
+            Settings->beginGroup("SoundFilePath");
+                   QString OnlineSound = Settings->value("User_go_Online","").toString();
+        Settings->endGroup();
+        Settings->beginGroup("Enable");
+                  bool flag = Settings->value("User_go_Online",false).toBool();
+        Settings->endGroup();
+    Settings->endGroup();
     if(!OnlineSound.isEmpty()&&flag)
         if(QSound::isAvailable())
         QSound::play(OnlineSound);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/ApplicationWindow.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/ApplicationWindow.cpp
index 7daf53324..516f3e5fd 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/ApplicationWindow.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/ApplicationWindow.cpp
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ ApplicationWindow::ApplicationWindow(QWidget* parent, Qt::WFlags flags)
 
     setWindowTitle(tr("RetroShare"));
 
-    RshareSettings config;
-    config.loadWidgetInformation(this);
+    Settings->loadWidgetInformation(this);
 
     // Setting icons
     this->setWindowIcon(QIcon(QString::fromUtf8(":/images/rstray3.png")));
@@ -155,8 +154,7 @@ void ApplicationWindow::createActions()
 
 void ApplicationWindow::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *e)
 {
-    RshareSettings config;
-    config.saveWidgetInformation(this);
+    Settings->saveWidgetInformation(this);
 
     hide();
     e->ignore();
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.cpp
index 3bf9dca3d..085c1456d 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.cpp
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ StatisticDialog::StatisticDialog(QWidget *parent)
   /* Invoke the Qt Designer generated object setup routine */
   ui.setupUi(this);
 
-  /* Create Bandwidth Graph related QObjects */
-  _settings = new RshareSettings();
-
   /* Bind events to actions */
   createActions();
 
@@ -85,12 +82,6 @@ StatisticDialog::StatisticDialog(QWidget *parent)
 
 }
 
-/** Default destructor */
-StatisticDialog::~StatisticDialog()
-{
-  delete _settings;
-}
-
 /**
  Custom event handler. Checks if the event is a bandwidth update event. If it
  is, it will add the data point to the history and updates the graph.*/
@@ -182,7 +173,7 @@ StatisticDialog::loadSettings()
 
 
   /* Set the line filter checkboxes accordingly */
-  uint filter = _settings->getBWGraphFilter();
+  uint filter = Settings->getBWGraphFilter();
   ui.chkReceiveRate->setChecked(filter & BWGRAPH_REC);
   ui.chkSendRate->setChecked(filter & BWGRAPH_SEND);
 
@@ -215,13 +206,13 @@ StatisticDialog::saveChanges()
   showSettingsFrame(false);
   
   /* Save the opacity */
-  _settings->setBWGraphOpacity(ui.sldrOpacity->value());
+  Settings->setBWGraphOpacity(ui.sldrOpacity->value());
 
 
   
   /* Save the line filter values */
-  _settings->setBWGraphFilter(BWGRAPH_REC, ui.chkReceiveRate->isChecked());
-  _settings->setBWGraphFilter(BWGRAPH_SEND, ui.chkSendRate->isChecked());
+  Settings->setBWGraphFilter(BWGRAPH_REC, ui.chkReceiveRate->isChecked());
+  Settings->setBWGraphFilter(BWGRAPH_SEND, ui.chkSendRate->isChecked());
 
   /* Update the graph frame settings */
   ui.frmGraph->setShowCounters(ui.chkReceiveRate->isChecked(),
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.h
index 2f051e61f..985df73a3 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/unfinished/StatisticDialog.h
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ class StatisticDialog : public MainPage
 public:
   /** Default Constructor */
   StatisticDialog(QWidget *parent = 0);
-  /** Default Destructor */
-  ~StatisticDialog();
+
 protected:
   /** Called to deliver a bandwidth update event from RetroShare. */
   void customEvent(QEvent *event);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/main.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/main.cpp
index 1ff00e231..78d0c3fa7 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/main.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/main.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         /* RetroShare Core Objects */
 	RsInit::InitRsConfig();
 	bool okStart = RsInit::InitRetroShare(argc, argv);
-	
+
+	/* create global settings object */
+	RshareSettings::Create ();
+
 	/*
 	Function RsConfigMinimised is not available in SVN, so I commented it out.
         bool startMinimised = RsConfigStartMinimised(config);
@@ -163,9 +166,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	{
 		/* only show window, if not startMinimized */
-                RshareSettings _settings;
-
-		if(!_settings.value(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), false).toBool()) 
+		if(!Settings->value(QString::fromUtf8("StartMinimized"), false).toBool()) 
 		{
 
 			w->show();
@@ -179,13 +180,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	/* dive into the endless loop */
 	// return ret;
-    int ti = rshare.exec();
-    delete w ;
+	int ti = rshare.exec();
+	delete w ;
+
+	Settings->sync();
+	delete Settings;
+
 	return ti ;
-
 }
-
-
-
-
-
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/rshare.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/rshare.cpp
index 2093cc85f..59a03ec76 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/rshare.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/rshare.cpp
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ Rshare::Rshare(QStringList args, int &argc, char **argv, QString dir)
 
   /* Check if we're supposed to reset our config before proceeding. */
   if (_args.contains(ARG_RESET)) {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    settings.reset();
+    Settings->reset();
   }
   
   /* Handle the -loglevel and -logfile options. */
@@ -314,8 +313,7 @@ Rshare::setLanguage(QString languageCode)
 {
   /* If the language code is empty, use the previously-saved setting */
   if (languageCode.isEmpty()) {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    languageCode = settings.getLanguageCode();
+    languageCode = Settings->getLanguageCode();
   }
   /* Translate into the desired langauge */
   if (LanguageSupport::translate(languageCode)) {
@@ -334,8 +332,7 @@ Rshare::setStyle(QString styleKey)
 {
   /* If no style was specified, use the previously-saved setting */
   if (styleKey.isEmpty()) {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    styleKey = settings.getInterfaceStyle();
+    styleKey = Settings->getInterfaceStyle();
   }
   /* Apply the specified GUI style */
   if (QApplication::setStyle(styleKey)) {
@@ -350,8 +347,7 @@ Rshare::setSheet(QString sheet)
 {
   /* If no stylesheet was specified, use the previously-saved setting */
   if (sheet.isEmpty()) {
-    RshareSettings settings;
-    sheet = settings.getSheetName();
+    sheet = Settings->getSheetName();
   }
   /* Apply the specified GUI stylesheet */
     _stylesheet = sheet;