I was getting the error that SQL Server 2014 Management Studio has encountered an error on every start during the splash screen. This is happening on windows 8.1 running the install and application in regular and administrator modes. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the sql server 2014 and the .net frameworks. Nothing is working
Event viewer is showing
Application: Ssms.exe Framework Version: v4.0.30319 Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception. Exception Info: System.Security.Cryptography.CryptographicException Stack: at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.RegisteredServers.RegisteredServer.ProtectData(System.String, Boolean)