Try booting in Safe Mode and see if it is normal. If so then there may be a program that is messing up the clipboard. It may not be malware. It may just use the clipboard and have a bug. Process of elimination in that case.
If it doesn't work in Safe Mode then I would do a malware scan with
MBAM free version.
I tried it on safe mode and the issue persists intermittently. And no, iys not malware. This issue is affecting tons of people who use Win 8.1.
I just dont understand why microsoft could make a great blunder like this that should have a very simple fix. Microsoft doesnt get it. When it starts losing revenue and profit to other, better capable o/s's, you'll know why.
I need copy and paste to work ALL THE TIME, not intermittently. Any solutions to this issue?