You'll need the following [b]Import[/b] statement:


    Imports System.XML.Serialization

Your Settings object:


    Public Class SettingsObject
        Public MainLocation As Location
        Public MainSize As Size
        Public LastUsed As DateTime
    End Class
    Dim MySettings As SettingsObject

The Deserialization method:


    Public Shared Function ReadSettings(ByVal fileName As String) As Boolean
        Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(SettingsObject))
        Dim reader As New FileStream(fileName, FileMode.Open)

        Try
            MySettings = CType(serializer.Deserialize(reader), SettingsObject)
            Call reader.Close()
            Return True
        Catch ex As Exception
            Call reader.Close()
            Debug.WriteLine(ex.ToString)
            Return False
        End Try
    End Function

This Serialization method:


    Public Shared Function SaveSettings(ByVal fileName As String) As Boolean
        Try
            Dim serializer As New XmlSerializer(GetType(SettingsObject))
            Dim writer As New StreamWriter(fileName, False)

            Call serializer.Serialize(writer, SettingsInstance)
            Call writer.Close()
            Return True
        Catch ex As Exception
            Debug.WriteLine(ex.ToString)
            Return False
        End Try
    End Function

Saving your settings:


MySettings.MainLocation = frmMain.Location
MySettings.MainSize = frmMain.Size
MySettings.LastUsed = DateTime.Now
'These settings can be changed at any time. It doesn't have to be before the actual saving.
SaveSettings("C:\testing.xml") 'Save our Settings

Loading your Settings:


LoadSettings("C:\settings.xml")
Debug.WriteLine(MySettings.LastUsed.ToLongDateString, "Last Used")

Good luck,
-Allen