I got the same problem. And still have.
What ever I was doing, editing, re-writing config file, fresh app re-installing, waiting patiently 3-5 hours and longer, numerous times reconfiguring my router, assuring no firewall, no antivirus, malware hunt apps are active,  etc etc - nothing helps.n
Connections NEVER even starts.

The only thing which let me get online into XC network was copying config file to ./roaming/ directory, that way starting TOR
Now even I got a stable connections on TOR,  and every day stakes, it never ever gets more then 8 connections.
Eight ( 8 ) is maximum i ever have seen, which makes me a bit nervous anyway, specially when i read people are getting 40-50 conections and more

WIN8.1 64bit, i7, 6GB RAM, latest  v0.9.2.48a_RC1.XCurrency-REV2, 100/100 mbps fiber line, 2-3 ms ping to ISP here

Sure would like to fix this, even I can not complain about TOR performance either, even XChat is rather quick