"Ditch & switch" is probably the best solution.  However, you might want to go to Device Manager in Windows (with APCC closed) and see if your virtual ports were properly terminated the last time APCC closed.  I've been down this route.  If APCC isn't allowed to close properly the virtual ports will not be properly closed and next time you run APCC they won't work.  You can delete the ports from Device Manager and start over.