Properties settings = new Properties();
InputStream in;
try {
	// Create the file if it doesn't exist
	File f = new File("settings.xml");
	if (f.createNewFile()) {
		// Default settings please?
		new SettingsWindow(this);
	}
	
	// Try reading it
	in = new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream("settings.xml"));
}
catch (IOException e) {
	// Didn't work creating and/or reading? Die ...
	JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"Settings file not found","Error",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
	System.exit(1);
}

settings.loadFromXML(in);