Cannot find config in file : WATERFALL_SETTINGS - using CurseForge

[CoyoteEffect]

I started modding yesterday, using CurseForge, and downloaded 5 mods: Community Tech Tree,  Kerbal Exoplanets, KSP Recall, Ksp Interstellar Extended, and MechJeb2.  It worked fine, I went to sleep last night, I woke up this morning and the game will not launch on start, and in the top right I get 
Error: Empty part config file
Cannot find config in file : WATERFALL_SETTINGS

I've verified game files, made sure all mods were installed, backed game up and reinstalled mods, still get that.
Any help would be appreciated  

Edited September 26, 2021 by CoyoteEffect

[CoyoteEffect]

Update: learned about CKAN, used that, removed the WATERFALL_SETTINGS error but did not fix the Empty part config file.

Update 2: found an empty .cfg file (upgrades.cfg), deleted, now no orange error but game still crashes on launch.

Edited September 27, 2021 by CoyoteEffect
Update