Solution
This is a known and documented issue that can present itself on computers running Windows 7 64-bit with version 4.5.2 of the .NET Framework installed. The problem should not occur if the version of Windows is Service Pack 1 or later.
The ideal solution to this problem is to upgrade your computer to a more recent version of Windows 7 (i.e. SP1 or later), in order to install a more recent version of the .NET framework.
However, there is also a quicker workaround available to users who do not wish to upgrade Windows. You can reset the configuration database using a standalone executable that is provided with NI MAX.
For more information on this workaround, see
How Can I Reset the MAX Database Without Opening NI MAX?