diff --git a/ccs.ps1 b/ccs.ps1
index cdd5ef31..3e058ebd 100644
--- a/ccs.ps1
+++ b/ccs.ps1
@@ -79,7 +79,14 @@ $SettingsPath = $SettingsPath -replace '/', '\'
 if (-not (Test-Path $SettingsPath)) {
     Write-Host "Error: Settings file not found: $SettingsPath" -ForegroundColor Red
     Write-Host ""
-    Write-Host "Create the settings file or update the path in $ConfigFile"
+    Write-Host "Solutions:" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Host "  1. Create the settings file with empty env:"
+    Write-Host "     New-Item -ItemType File -Force -Path '$SettingsPath'"
+    Write-Host "     Set-Content -Path '$SettingsPath' -Value '{`"env`":{}}`'"
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "  2. Or update profile path in $ConfigFile"
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "  3. Or reinstall: irm ccs.kaitran.ca/install.ps1 | iex"
     exit 1
 }
 
@@ -89,6 +96,15 @@ try {
     $Settings = $SettingsContent | ConvertFrom-Json -ErrorAction Stop
 } catch {
     Write-Host "Error: Invalid JSON in $SettingsPath" -ForegroundColor Red
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "Details: $_" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "Solutions:" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Host "  1. Validate JSON at https://jsonlint.com"
+    Write-Host "  2. Or reset to template:"
+    Write-Host "     Set-Content -Path '$SettingsPath' -Value '{`"env`":{}}`'"
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Host "  3. Or reinstall: irm ccs.kaitran.ca/install.ps1 | iex"
     exit 1
 }
 
diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index 7e7b21bd..e32b4bb1 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -232,6 +232,16 @@ if (-not (Test-Path $SonnetSettings)) {
     Write-Host "|  [OK] Sonnet profile exists: $SonnetSettings"
 }
 
+# Ensure default profile settings file exists
+$DefaultSettings = "$ClaudeDir\settings.json"
+if (-not (Test-Path $DefaultSettings)) {
+    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $ClaudeDir | Out-Null
+    @{ env = @{} } | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 10 | Set-Content $DefaultSettings
+    Write-Host "|  [OK] Created default settings: $DefaultSettings"
+} else {
+    Write-Host "|  [OK] Default profile exists: $DefaultSettings"
+}
+
 Write-Host "└─"
 Write-Host ""