Waiting For Connection (netbeans-xdebug) using NetBeans - netbeans

Question

I have tried everything I can to get xdebug running with NetBeans. I have tried every suggestion on every forum I could find, but none have helped. No matter what I do, I ALWAYS get the dreaded "Waiting For Connection (netbeans-xdeubg)" and nothing happens.
Win 10. Apache running locally. Virus and Firewall have both been disabled. Listening on 9001 (I also tried 9000, no change).
relevant php.ini:
[XDebug]
zend_extension = php_xdebug-2.5.4-5.6-vc11.dll
xdebug.remote_enable=1
xdebug.remote_handler=dbgp
xdebug.remote_host=127.0.0.1
xdebug.remote_port=9001
xdebug.remote_autostart=1
xdebug.remote_connect_back=1
xdebug.remote_mode=req
xdebug.idekey="netbeans-xdebug"
xdebug.profiler_append = 0
xdebug.profiler_enable = 1
xdebug.profiler_enable_trigger = 0
xdebug.profiler_output_dir = "c:\temp"
;xdebug.profiler_output_name = "cachegrind.out.%t-%s"
xdebug.remote_log="c:\temp\xdebug.txt"
xdebug.trace_output_dir = "c:\temp"
; 3600 (1 hour), 36000 = 10h
xdebug.remote_cookie_expire_time = 36000
xdebug.var_display_max_data = 2048
Net Beans project config:
Debugger Proxy: 127.0.0.1, Port 9001
Net Beans php debugging (Tools->Options->PHP->Debugging):
Debugger Port: 9001
Session ID: netbeans-xdebug
Max Data Length: 2048
[EDIT: #lazyone]
After NetBeans Launch and manually opening browser tab:
C:\WINDOWS\system32>netstat -o -n -a -b (excluded any non-9001 results):
TCP 0.0.0.0:9001 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING
[netbeans64.exe]
TCP 127.0.0.1:9001 127.0.0.1:63119 ESTABLISHED
[netbeans64.exe]
TCP 127.0.0.1:9001 127.0.0.1:63123 ESTABLISHED
[netbeans64.exe]
TCP 127.0.0.1:63119 127.0.0.1:9001 ESTABLISHED
[netbeans64.exe]
TCP 127.0.0.1:63123 127.0.0.1:9001 ESTABLISHED
[httpd.exe]
TCP [::]:9001 [::]:0 LISTENING
[netbeans64.exe]
When I run the project, it sits and waits; browser does not react. When I kill debugging session, the browser immediately pulls up a tab with the proper url (http://local.ct.com/info.php?XDEBUG_SESSION_START=netbeans-xdebug). I have tried manually starting that URL when the IDE is waiting, but nothing changes.
Note that if I examine the remote log when I start the debugging from NetBeans (waiting...) then stop it, I get the following in the log:
Log opened at 2017-10-11 18:18:26
I: Checking remote connect back address.
I: Checking header 'HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'.
I: Checking header 'REMOTE_ADDR'.
I: Remote address found, connecting to 127.0.0.1:9001.
E: Time-out connecting to client. :-(
Log closed at 2017-10-11 18:18:26
If instead I start debugging in Netbeans (waiting...), then manually open the tab (still waiting...), then stop it, I get the following in the log:
Log opened at 2017-10-11 18:21:29
I: Checking remote connect back address.
I: Checking header 'HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'.
I: Checking header 'REMOTE_ADDR'.
I: Remote address found, connecting to 127.0.0.1:9001.
I: Connected to client. :-)
-> <init xmlns="urn:debugger_protocol_v1" xmlns:xdebug="http://xdebug.org/dbgp/xdebug" fileuri="file:///C:/userdata/CMP/ct/cmp/ct/htdocs/info.php" language="PHP" xdebug:language_version="5.6.1-dev" protocol_version="1.0" appid="13596" idekey="netbeans-xdebug"><engine version="2.5.4"><![CDATA[Xdebug]]></engine><author><![CDATA[Derick Rethans]]></author><url><![CDATA[http://xdebug.org]]></url><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright (c) 2002-2017 by Derick Rethans]]></copyright></init>
-> <response xmlns="urn:debugger_protocol_v1" xmlns:xdebug="http://xdebug.org/dbgp/xdebug" status="stopping" reason="ok"></response>
Log closed at 2017-10-11 18:21:34
Log opened at 2017-10-11 18:21:34
I: Checking remote connect back address.
I: Checking header 'HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'.
I: Checking header 'REMOTE_ADDR'.
I: Remote address found, connecting to 127.0.0.1:9001.
E: Time-out connecting to client. :-(
Log closed at 2017-10-11 18:21:34
I have been working on this a ridiculously long time. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!