After trying for 4 solid hours today to open my TWS, I closed my IB account. The management dude said that IB really wasn't for me anyway because it was for professional traders. Traders my ass. What has that got to do with programming glitches and overworked technical support that won't stick with you more than a couple of minutes when they screw you up by changing the system over and over ad nauseam.
I use the browser based TWS when I have problems with the standalone. Try deleting the log files in jts or ibjts subdirectories.
Your making a mistake, I have tried every broker out their, IB is the best, the offer so much for so little. They truly are the best discount broker. I like you have closed my account before, sort of an emotional thing, then I would always come back.