Visual studio android emulator will not start fully

Question

I create a blank cordova application in visual studio 2015 and start debugging with the visual studio android emulators (first with the lollipop and then kitkat). XDE starts

Answer 1

I'm adding a separate answer though the insight provided by Gyum Fox provided the clues I needed to try other stuff ...

[NOTE: The last time I was able to use the emulators (~3 weeks ago) I had wireless disabled and was using a wired connection on my Dev laptop. I ran out of space on my switch so re-enabled the wireless as the sole connectivity option. This may be totally coincidental, but read on and I'll let y'all decide.]

After following Gyum's steps without success, I decided to turn off the wireless and then try launching the emulator.

Wouldn't you know it ... it worked without an issue! 8-}

Once I had the emulator running, I re-enabled the wireless and the emulator picked up the connectivity.

I'm not a network guy so I'm not even gonna attempt to understand. It's a minor PITA but hey ... if it works!!! ;-}