I am having a weird problem with this code. I keep getting this error. "NullReferenceException was unhandled." Then this part of the code is highlighted. "i < settings.Dirs.Length" There are several forms but this is the one I find the problem.

namespace MemoryGame
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Main form for the game - application starts here
    /// </summary>
    public class GameForm : System.Windows.Forms.Form
    {
        // --- constants
        private const string strVersion = "1.0 R2";
        private const int TIMER1_INTERVAL = 750;
        private const int DIST_X = 10;
        private const int DIST_Y = 10;

        private ImageContainer images;
        private string[] imageFilenames;
        private ArrayList buttons; // Spielkarten
        private bool[] buttonOpen;
        private int openButton1 = -1, openButton2 = -1;
        private int[] indexesOfPairs;
        private int secs;
        private int playernr;
        private ArrayList players;
        // config
        private Settings settings = Settings.Load();
        //-------

        private System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu mainMenu1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem5;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem7;
        private System.Windows.Forms.StatusBar lblStatus;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Panel GamePanel;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem10;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem8;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Timer timerRemovePair;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Timer timerSetPairInvisible;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Timer timerSec;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Timer timerPlaySec;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Panel TitlePanel;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuExit;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuAbout;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuOnePlayerGame;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuTwoPlayerGame;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuCustomize;
        private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuRefresh;
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components;

        public GameForm()
        {
            //
            // Required for Windows Form Designer support
            //
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        protected override void Dispose( bool disposing )
        {
            if( disposing )
            {
                if(components != null)
                {
                    components.Dispose();
                }
            }
            base.Dispose( disposing );
        }

        #region Windows Form Designer generated code
        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();
            System.Resources.ResourceManager resources = new System.Resources.ResourceManager(typeof(GameForm));
            this.timerSec = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer(this.components);
            this.menuItem8 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuCustomize = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuItem5 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuAbout = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuItem7 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuOnePlayerGame = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuTwoPlayerGame = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.menuExit = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.timerSetPairInvisible = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer(this.components);
            this.timerRemovePair = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer(this.components);
            this.timerPlaySec = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer(this.components);
            this.TitlePanel = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.lblStatus = new System.Windows.Forms.StatusBar();
            this.GamePanel = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
            this.menuRefresh = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.mainMenu1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu();
            this.menuItem10 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
            this.GamePanel.SuspendLayout();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // timerSec
            // 
            this.timerSec.Interval = 1000;
            this.timerSec.Tick += new System.EventHandler(this.timerSec_Tick);
            // 
            // menuItem8
            // 
            this.menuItem8.Index = 1;
            this.menuItem8.Text = "-";
            // 
            // menuCustomize
            // 
            this.menuCustomize.Index = 0;
            this.menuCustomize.Shortcut = System.Windows.Forms.Shortcut.F12;
            this.menuCustomize.Text = "Customize...";
            this.menuCustomize.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuCustomize_Click);
            // 
            // menuItem5
            // 
            this.menuItem5.Index = 2;
            this.menuItem5.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
                                                                                      this.menuAbout});
            this.menuItem5.Text = "Help";
            // 
            // menuAbout
            // 
            this.menuAbout.Index = 0;
            this.menuAbout.Text = "About";
            this.menuAbout.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuAbout_Click);
            // 
            // menuItem7
            // 
            this.menuItem7.Index = 2;
            this.menuItem7.Text = "-";
            // 
            // menuItem1
            // 
            this.menuItem1.Index = 0;
            this.menuItem1.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
                                                                                      this.menuOnePlayerGame,
                                                                                      this.menuTwoPlayerGame,
                                                                                      this.menuItem7,
                                                                                      this.menuExit});
            this.menuItem1.Text = "Game";
            // 
            // menuOnePlayerGame
            // 
            this.menuOnePlayerGame.Index = 0;
            this.menuOnePlayerGame.Shortcut = System.Windows.Forms.Shortcut.F1;
            this.menuOnePlayerGame.Text = "One Player Game";
            this.menuOnePlayerGame.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuOnePlayerGame_Click);
            // 
            // menuTwoPlayerGame
            // 
            this.menuTwoPlayerGame.Index = 1;
            this.menuTwoPlayerGame.Shortcut = System.Windows.Forms.Shortcut.F2;
            this.menuTwoPlayerGame.Text = "Two Player Game";
            this.menuTwoPlayerGame.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuTwoPlayerGame_Click);
            // 
            // menuExit
            // 
            this.menuExit.Index = 3;
            this.menuExit.Shortcut = System.Windows.Forms.Shortcut.CtrlQ;
            this.menuExit.Text = "Exit";
            this.menuExit.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuExit_Click);
            // 
            // timerSetPairInvisible
            // 
            this.timerSetPairInvisible.Interval = 1000;
            this.timerSetPairInvisible.Tick += new System.EventHandler(this.timerSetPairInvisible_Tick);
            // 
            // timerRemovePair
            // 
            this.timerRemovePair.Interval = 1000;
            this.timerRemovePair.Tick += new System.EventHandler(this.timerRemovePair_Tick);
            // 
            // timerPlaySec
            // 
            this.timerPlaySec.Interval = 1000;
            this.timerPlaySec.Tick += new System.EventHandler(this.timerPlaySec_Tick);
            // 
            // TitlePanel
            // 
            this.TitlePanel.BackgroundImage = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("TitlePanel.BackgroundImage")));
            this.TitlePanel.Cursor = System.Windows.Forms.Cursors.Hand;
            this.TitlePanel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(128, 64);
            this.TitlePanel.Name = "TitlePanel";
            this.TitlePanel.RightToLeft = System.Windows.Forms.RightToLeft.No;
            this.TitlePanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(240, 72);
            this.TitlePanel.TabIndex = 0;
            this.TitlePanel.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.TitlePanel_Click);
            // 
            // lblStatus
            // 
            this.lblStatus.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 529);
            this.lblStatus.Name = "lblStatus";
            this.lblStatus.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(792, 24);
            this.lblStatus.TabIndex = 3;
            this.lblStatus.Text = "Ready";
            // 
            // GamePanel
            // 
            this.GamePanel.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
            this.GamePanel.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] {
                                                                                    this.TitlePanel});
            this.GamePanel.Cursor = System.Windows.Forms.Cursors.Arrow;
            this.GamePanel.Name = "GamePanel";
            this.GamePanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(792, 530);
            this.GamePanel.TabIndex = 4;
            this.GamePanel.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.GamePanel_Paint);
            // 
            // menuRefresh
            // 
            this.menuRefresh.Index = 2;
            this.menuRefresh.Shortcut = System.Windows.Forms.Shortcut.F5;
            this.menuRefresh.Text = "Refresh";
            this.menuRefresh.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.menuRefresh_Click);
            // 
            // mainMenu1
            // 
            this.mainMenu1.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
                                                                                      this.menuItem1,
                                                                                      this.menuItem10,
                                                                                      this.menuItem5});
            // 
            // menuItem10
            // 
            this.menuItem10.Index = 1;
            this.menuItem10.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
                                                                                       this.menuCustomize,
                                                                                       this.menuItem8,
                                                                                       this.menuRefresh});
            this.menuItem10.Text = "Settings";
            // 
            // GameForm
            // 
            this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(792, 553);
            this.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] {
                                                                          this.GamePanel,
                                                                          this.lblStatus});
            this.Icon = ((System.Drawing.Icon)(resources.GetObject("$this.Icon")));
            this.Menu = this.mainMenu1;
            this.Name = "GameForm";
            this.Text = "Memory Game";
            this.GamePanel.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.ResumeLayout(false);

        }
        #endregion

        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main() 
        {
            GameForm startForm = new GameForm();
            startForm.BackColor = Color.DarkGoldenrod;          
            startForm.TitlePanel.Visible = true;            
            startForm.menuRefresh.Enabled = false;
            Application.Run(startForm);
        }

        private void AddButton(int x, int y, int width, int height) 
        {
            Button button = new Button();
            button.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(x, y);
            button.Name = "button" + buttons.Count;
            button.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(width, height);
            button.TabIndex = 0;
            button.Text = settings.ButtonText;
            button.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button_Click);
            GamePanel.Controls.Add(button);
            buttons.Add (button);
        }


        private void InitButtons() 
        {
            int x, y;
            int unit_x, unit_y;

            buttons = new ArrayList(settings.NrButtonsX * settings.NrButtonsY);
            unit_x = GamePanel.Width/settings.NrButtonsX;
            unit_y = GamePanel.Height/settings.NrButtonsY;
            for (y = 0; y < settings.NrButtonsY; y++) 
            {
                for (x = 0; x < settings.NrButtonsX; x++) 
                {
                    this.AddButton (x*unit_x, y*unit_y, GamePanel.Width/settings.NrButtonsX - DIST_X, GamePanel.Height/settings.NrButtonsY - DIST_Y);
                }
            }
        }

        private void RemoveButtons() 
        {
            if (buttons != null) 
            {
                foreach(Button button in buttons) 
                {   //  for (int i = 0; i < buttons.Count; i++) {
                    //      Button button = (Button)buttons[i]; 
                    GamePanel.Controls.Remove(button);
                }
            }
        }

        private string[] getRandomFilenames(ArrayList filesInDir) 
        {
            int x,y;
            string filename; 
            string[] filenames = new string[settings.NrButtonsY*settings.NrButtonsX];
            int[] idx = getRandomIndexes(filesInDir.Count);

            for (y = 0; y < settings.NrButtonsY; y++) 
            {
                for (x = 0; x < settings.NrButtonsX; x++) 
                {       
                    filename = (string)filesInDir[idx[map(x,y) % idx.Length]];
                    filenames[map(x,y)] = filename;
                }
            }
            return filenames;           
        }

        // lädt Images mit zufälligem Dateinamen (aus angegebenem Directory) in den ImageContainer
        private void LoadImages(string[] filenames) 
        {
            Cursor prevCursor;
            int i;
            int nrButtons = settings.NrButtonsX*settings.NrButtonsY;
            int width = GamePanel.Width/settings.NrButtonsX - DIST_X;
            int height = GamePanel.Height/settings.NrButtonsY - DIST_Y;
            string filename;
            //          string dir = this.txtDir.Text;          

            images = new ImageContainer(settings.NrButtonsX * settings.NrButtonsY);

            //          progressBar1.Value = 0;
            //          progressBar1.Maximum = NR_BUTTONS;
            //          progressBar1.Visible = true;
            prevCursor = this.Cursor;
            this.Cursor = Cursors.WaitCursor;
            for (i = 0; i < nrButtons/2; i++) 
            {
                filename = filenames[i];
                if (settings.FitToSize) 
                {       
                    images.AddImageStretched(filename, width, height, settings.AspectRatio);
                }
                else 
                {           
                    images.AddImageClipped(filename, width, height);
                }
                lblStatus.Text = "Loading \"" + filename + "\"";
                lblStatus.Refresh();
                //          progressBar1.Value++;
                //          progressBar1.Refresh();
            }
            // images der "doppelgänger" setzen
            for (i = 0; i < nrButtons/2; i++)
            {
                images.AddImage (images[indexesOfPairs[i]]);
            }
            //          progressBar1.Visible = false;
            this.Cursor = prevCursor;
        }

        private int map(int x, int y) 
        {
            return (y*settings.NrButtonsX + x);
        }

        private void SetButtonImage(int idx, bool visible) 
        {
            Button button;

            button = (Button)buttons[idx];
            if (visible) 
            {
                button.Text = "";
                button.Image = (Image)images[idx];              
            }
            else 
            {
                button.Text = settings.ButtonText;
                button.Image = null;
            }
        }

        private void SetButtonImage(int x, int y, bool visible) 
        {
            SetButtonImage(map(x,y), visible);
        }

        private void SetAllButtonImages(bool visible) 
        {
            int i;
            for (i = 0; i < buttons.Count; i++) 
            {
                SetButtonImage(i, visible);
            }
        }

        private void ClearButtonOpen() 
        {
            for (int i=0; i<buttonOpen.Length; i++) 
            {
                buttonOpen[i] = false;
            }
        }

        private void Swap(ref int value1, ref int value2) 
        {
            int temp;
            temp = value1;
            value1 = value2;
            value2 = temp;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// array indizes mischen (permutation erstellen)
        /// verwendet in SetPairs und getRandomFilenames
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="count">
        /// gibt die grösse des arrays an, für das die indizes erstellt werden
        /// </param>
        /// <returns>
        /// permutation der ursprünglich aufsteigenden indizes
        /// </returns>
        private int[] getRandomIndexes(int count) 
        {
            Random randomizer;
            int i, random;
            int[] indexes;

            randomizer = new Random(unchecked((int)DateTime.Now.Ticks));
            indexes = new int[count];

            // aufsteigende indizes generieren
            for (i = 0; i < count; i++) 
            {
                indexes[i] = i;
            }
            // permutation erstellen ("durchmischen")
            for (i = 0; i < count; i++) 
            {
                random = randomizer.Next(count);
                Swap(ref indexes[i], ref indexes[random]);
            }

            return indexes;
        }

        // "doppelgänger" der images generieren nach zufallsprinzip
        private void SetPairs() 
        {
            int nrButtons = settings.NrButtonsX*settings.NrButtonsY;
            indexesOfPairs = getRandomIndexes(nrButtons/2);
        }

        private System.Collections.ArrayList getFilenames() 
        {
            int i, j;
            ArrayList entries = new ArrayList();
            string[] strEntries; 
            for (i = 0; i < settings.Dirs.Length; i++) 
            {
                try 
                {
                    strEntries = Directory.GetFiles(settings.Dirs[i]);
                    for (j = 0; j < strEntries.Length; j++) 
                    {
                        if (ImageContainer.isPicture(strEntries[j]))
                        {
                            entries.Add(strEntries[j]);
                        }
                    }
                }
                catch (System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Directory '" + settings.Dirs[i] + "' does not exist!", "Memory Game",MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error );
                }
                catch (System.ArgumentException)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("There is no (valid) directory set for images! "
                                  + "\n\nChange the settings...", 
                                    "Memory Game", MessageBoxButtons.OK, 
                                    MessageBoxIcon.Error);              
                }
            }
            return entries;
        }

        private void TogglePlayers() 
        {
            playernr = (playernr+1) % players.Count;
            DisplayGameStatus();
            if (playernr % 2 != 0) 
            {
                GamePanel.BackColor = Color.BurlyWood;
            }
            else 
            {
                GamePanel.BackColor = Color.DarkSeaGreen;
            }
        }

        private void InitNewGame() 
        {
            System.Collections.ArrayList filenames = getFilenames();
            if (filenames == null || filenames.Count <= 0) 
            {
                MessageBox.Show("There is no (valid) directory set for images! "
                                + "\n\nChange the settings...", 
                                "Memory Game", MessageBoxButtons.OK, 
                                MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                return;
            }
            else if (filenames.Count < settings.NrButtonsX*settings.NrButtonsY/2) 
            {
                MessageBox.Show("There are not enough images in the given dir(s)! "
                                + "\n\nChange the settings...", 
                                "Memory Game", MessageBoxButtons.OK, 
                                MessageBoxIcon.Error);
                return;
            }
            playernr = 0;
            timerRemovePair.Interval = TIMER1_INTERVAL; //ms
            timerRemovePair.Enabled  = false;
            timerSetPairInvisible.Interval = TIMER1_INTERVAL; //ms
            timerSetPairInvisible.Enabled = false;
            timerSec.Interval = 1000; // 1 sec
            timerSec.Enabled = false;
            timerPlaySec.Interval = 1000;
            timerPlaySec.Enabled = false;
            imageFilenames = getRandomFilenames(filenames);
            buttonOpen = new bool[settings.NrButtonsX*settings.NrButtonsY];
            ClearButtonOpen();
            this.RemoveButtons();
            this.TitlePanel.Visible = false;
            this.InitButtons();
            this.SetPairs();
            this.LoadImages(imageFilenames);
            secs = settings.SecondsShow;
            if (secs > 0) 
            {
                SetAllButtonImages(true);
                timerSec.Enabled = true; // macht die bilder wieder unsichtbar
                lblStatus.Text = "Seconds left..." + secs;
                lblStatus.Refresh();                
            }
        }

        private void StartGame() 
        {
            menuRefresh.Enabled = true;
            SetAllButtonImages(false); // bilder wieder unsichtbar (zu beginn)
            timerSec.Enabled = false;
            timerPlaySec.Enabled = true;
        }

        private void EndGame()      
        {
            string msgBoxStr;

            System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult playagain;
            menuRefresh.Enabled = false;
            timerPlaySec.Enabled = false;
            this.TitlePanel.Visible = true;
            if (players.Count == 1) 
            {
                msgBoxStr = "You passed the game in " + (--((Player)players[0]).Secs) + " secs needing " + ((Player)players[0]).Tries + " tries";
                }
            else if (players.Count == 2) 
            {
                if (((Player)players[0]).FoundPairs > ((Player)players[1]).FoundPairs) 
                {
                    msgBoxStr = "-- Winner is " + ((Player)players[0]).Name + " --";
                }
                else if (((Player)players[0]).FoundPairs < ((Player)players[1]).FoundPairs) 
                {
                    msgBoxStr = "-- Winner is " + ((Player)players[1]).Name + " --";
                }
                else // gleiche Anzahl an gefundenen Paaren 
                {
                    if (((Player)players[0]).Tries < ((Player)players[1]).Tries) 
                    {
                        msgBoxStr = "-- Winner is " + ((Player)players[0]).Name + " --";
                    }
                    else if (((Player)players[0]).Tries > ((Player)players[1]).Tries) 
                    {
                        msgBoxStr = "-- Winner is " + ((Player)players[1]).Name + " --";
                    }
                    else 
                    {
                        msgBoxStr = "-- Equal -- Both players have same number of found pairs and tries. --";
                    }
                }
                msgBoxStr += "\n" + ((Player)players[0]).Name + ": "
                    + ((Player)players[0]).FoundPairs + " found pairs, " 
                    + ((Player)players[0]).Tries + " tries."
                    + "\n" + ((Player)players[1]).Name + ": "
                    + ((Player)players[1]).FoundPairs + " found pairs, " 
                    + ((Player)players[1]).Tries + " tries.";
            }
            else 
            {
                msgBoxStr = "Internal Error: Unhandled case in EndGame";
            }
            playagain = MessageBox.Show(msgBoxStr +
                                        "\n\nWanna play again?", 
                                        "Memory Game", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, 
                                        MessageBoxIcon.Asterisk);

            if (!settings.FoundPairsRemove) // karten noch auf dem spielfeld
            {
                RemoveButtons();
            }
            this.lblStatus.Text = "Select your game...";
            if (playagain == DialogResult.Yes)
            {
                foreach(Player player in players) 
                {   
                    player.Init();
                }
                InitNewGame();
            }
            else 
            {
                GamePanel.BackColor = Color.DarkGoldenrod;
            }
        }

        private void menuAbout_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Memory Game version " + strVersion + "\n" 
                          + "(c) Raimund Neumüller 2002 (Freeware)\n\n"
                          + "written in C# using the Microsoft.NET framework"
                          , "About this game...", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);

        }

        private void menuItem7_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {

        }

        protected override void OnResize(System.EventArgs e) 
        {
            this.GamePanel.Width = this.Width - 8;
            this.GamePanel.Height = this.Height - 108;
            this.TitlePanel.Top = this.GamePanel.Height/2 - this.TitlePanel.Height/2;
            this.TitlePanel.Left = this.GamePanel.Width/2 - this.TitlePanel.Width/2;
        }

        private void menuOnePlayerGame_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            players = new ArrayList(1);
            players.Add(new Player("Player 1"));
            InitNewGame();          
        }

        private void menuTwoPlayerGame_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            players = new ArrayList(2);
            players.Add(new Player("Player 1"));
            players.Add(new Player("Player 2"));
            InitNewGame();          
        }

        // Game/Exit
        private void menuExit_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            Application.Exit();
        }

        private void panel2_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
        {

        }

        private void menuItem8_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {

        }

        // Settings/Refresh
        private void menuRefresh_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            int x,y;
            this.RemoveButtons();
            this.InitButtons();
            this.LoadImages(imageFilenames); //dieselben nochmal laden (wg. geänderter grösse)
            for (y = 0; y < settings.NrButtonsY; y++) 
            {
                for (x = 0; x < settings.NrButtonsX; x++) 
                {
                    this.SetButtonImage(x,y,buttonOpen[map(x,y)]);
                }
            }
        }

        // Settings/Customize
        private void menuCustomize_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            SettingsForm settingsForm = new SettingsForm(settings, this);
            settingsForm.Show();
        }

        private int getButtonNr(object button) 
        {
            int x,y;
            for (y = 0; y < settings.NrButtonsY; y++) 
            {
                for (x = 0; x < settings.NrButtonsX; x++) 
                {
                    if (buttons[map(x,y)] == (Button)button)
                    {
                        return map(x,y);
                    }
                }
            }
            return -1;
        }

        // Event-Handler für alle Buttons (wird in AddButton registriert)
        private void button_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            Button button1, button2;
            int buttonNr;

            if (timerRemovePair.Enabled || timerSetPairInvisible.Enabled) 
            {
                return; // noch beschäftigt
            }

            buttonNr = getButtonNr(sender);

            if (buttonNr == openButton1) 
            {
                return; // kann nicht die gleiche zweimal aufdecken
            }

            buttonOpen[buttonNr] = !buttonOpen[buttonNr];
            SetButtonImage(buttonNr, buttonOpen[buttonNr]);         

            if (openButton1 == -1) 
            {
                openButton1 = buttonNr;
            }
            else 
            {
                openButton2 = buttonNr;
                button1 = (Button)buttons[openButton1];
                button2 = (Button)buttons[openButton2];
                if (button1.Image == button2.Image) 
                {
                    //                  MessageBox.Show ("You found a pair");
                    this.timerRemovePair.Enabled = true; // erst nach 1 sek. wegnehmen                  
                }
                else 
                {
                    //                  MessageBox.Show ("This is not a pair");
                    this.timerSetPairInvisible.Enabled = true; 
                }
                ((Player)players[playernr]).Tries++;
            }
        }

        private void timerRemovePair_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            Button button1, button2;
            int sumFoundPairs = 0;

            this.timerRemovePair.Enabled = false;
            button1 = (Button)buttons[openButton1]; 
            button2 = (Button)buttons[openButton2];

            if (settings.FoundPairsRemove) 
            {
                GamePanel.Controls.Remove(button1);
                GamePanel.Controls.Remove(button2);
            }
            else
            {
                GamePanel.Controls[GamePanel.Controls.IndexOf(button1)].Enabled = false;
                GamePanel.Controls[GamePanel.Controls.IndexOf(button2)].Enabled = false;
            }
            openButton1 = -1; openButton2 = -1;
            ((Player)players[playernr]).FoundPairs++;
            foreach(Player player in players) 
            {
                sumFoundPairs += player.FoundPairs;
            }
            if (sumFoundPairs == (settings.NrButtonsX*settings.NrButtonsY)/2) 
            {
                EndGame();
            }
        }

        // geöffnete Buttons nach einer gewissen Zeit (timer gesteuert) 
        // wieder zumachen und ggf. spieler wechseln
        private void timerSetPairInvisible_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            this.timerSetPairInvisible.Enabled = false;
            buttonOpen[openButton1] = false;
            buttonOpen[openButton2] = false;
            SetButtonImage(openButton1, false);
            SetButtonImage(openButton2, false);                 
            openButton1 = -1; openButton2 = -1;
            this.TogglePlayers();
            if (settings.ShowPlayerChange && players.Count > 1) 
            {
                this.timerPlaySec.Enabled = false;
                MessageBox.Show("Get Ready " + ((Player)players[playernr]).Name, "Memory Game");
                this.timerPlaySec.Enabled = true;
            }
        }

        private void timerSec_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            if (secs > 0) 
            {
                secs--;
                lblStatus.Text = "Seconds left..." + secs;
                lblStatus.Refresh();
            }
            else // Start Game
            {
                GamePanel.BackColor = Color.DarkSeaGreen;
                StartGame();
            }
        }

        private void DisplayGameStatus() 
        {
            lblStatus.Text = ">> " + ((Player)players[playernr]).Name + " <<     " 
                           + "Number of tries: " + ((Player)players[playernr]).Tries + ", Time: " + (((Player)players[playernr]).Secs++);
            lblStatus.Refresh();
        }

        private void timerPlaySec_Tick(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            DisplayGameStatus();
        }

        private void TitlePanel_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
        {
            menuAbout_Click(sender, e);         
        }

        private void GamePanel_Paint(object sender, System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
        {

        }
    }
}

From what you gave us, it looks like Settings.Load() isn't assigning anything to the Dirs object. Are you using the standard Visual Studio settings object, or is this a custom object?

Please post the entire exception, including the stack trace. That will help us figure this out.

Also, try not to post such a large chunk of code. Make a copy of your project and start removing parts until you're down to what you think is the minimum amount code that still has your problem. This will make it easier to find the problem, and folks around here will be more inclined to read your post.

I guess its the standard visual studio settings object. The part highlighted that gives the problem is the 5th line "i < settings.Dirs.Length" Any idea whats wrong?

private System.Collections.ArrayList getFilenames() 
        {
            int i, j;
            ArrayList entries = new ArrayList();
            string[] strEntries; 
            for (i = 0; i < settings.Dirs.Length; i++) 
            {
                try 
                {
                    strEntries = Directory.GetFiles(settings.Dirs[i]);
                    for (j = 0; j < strEntries.Length; j++) 
                    {
                        if (ImageContainer.isPicture(strEntries[j]))
                        {
                            entries.Add(strEntries[j]);
                        }
                    }
                }
                catch (System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Directory '" + settings.Dirs[i] + "' does not exist!", "Memory Game",MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error );
                }
                catch (System.ArgumentException)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("There is no (valid) directory set for images! "
                                  + "\n\nChange the settings...", 
                                    "Memory Game", MessageBoxButtons.OK, 
                                    MessageBoxIcon.Error);              
                }
            }
            return entries;
        }

Either settings or Dirs is null. An easy way to see which one is to change this:

for (i = 0; i < settings.Dirs.Length; i++)

...to this:

var dirs = settings.Dirs;
for (i = 0; i < dirs.Length; i++)

That'll tell us for sure what's null.

looks like dirs is null. what do I do now?

looks like dirs is null. what do I do now?

What's in your app.config file?

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