Windows 8.1 pauses/freezes for a moment every now and then

Every now and again when I click an executable or anything at all, Windows 8.1 will freeze for a few seconds.

Is someone having the same problem? What could this be?

Thx in advance!

A lot is due to the bloat. The other part is what kind of hard drive you are using. I have a SSD in my laptop and never got any pausing or freezing. Unless it was doing a Network share in Explorer. Then I get the clocking, because 8 has to rebuild the cache.

broe23 said:

A lot is due to the bloat. The other part is what kind of hard drive you are using. I have a SSD in my laptop and never got any pausing or freezing. Unless it was doing a Network share in Explorer. Then I get the clocking, because 8 has to rebuild the cache.

Click to expand...

What is a 'bloat'? And is there any way around this issue or do we all have to get used to it until Microsoft comes up with a solution?
By the way my laptop has a 5400rpm hdd.

You could also increase your memory to maximum for better performance.
EDIT: Bloat are unnecessary programs which you never use, you can uninstall any programs you don't use or you think you will not need them in Programs in Control panel.

just to add ,the 5400 rpm drive is slower ,and also is the Celeron cpu slower ,but having said that you should not get that pause ,its not a Microsoft issue ,as much as we like to blame so much on them .
Bloat ware ,is usually demo programs that the laptop makers put on the laptops because they get paid to do so by the software makers .as suggested do some checking in control panel /programs and features ,and remove what you know to be such programs .you may have to be careful ,because some of the programs you find in there are needed.

not positive on this but it could have make a difference ,the 2x40gig duel boot .I think you would have been better of had you made the partitions bigger.

sometimes malware/spyware can cause this pause .I would do a scan with the free version of malwarebytes .
directions and download here ,good luck
How to use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to scan and remove malware from your computer

I've noticed this a few times, and am beginning to think it is related to File Explorer running several copy paste tasks simultaneously and not any of my running apps. It is very frustrating.

I have no idea what causes this, but it's annoying if you compare it to Windows 7's crisp and sharp constant behavior. I love the Windows 8 new features, its modern touches, but these pauses/freezes are really something Microsoft should be looking into.

Do you hear clicking when the pause happens? Unexplained pauses can be caused by disk surface errors. If the disk has trouble reading the drive, it goes through a mechanical process to try to read the data, when this happens the system will pause waiting for the disk. Right click on the disk in "This PC", select properties, tools, and disk check to test the disk.

mikeytg said:

Do you hear clicking when the pause happens? Unexplained pauses can be caused by disk surface errors. If the disk has trouble reading the drive, it goes through a mechanical process to try to read the data, when this happens the system will pause waiting for the disk. Right click on the disk in "This PC", select properties, tools, and disk check to test the disk.

Click to expand...

I don't hear any clicking noises and my disk has been recently checked for errors by Seatools Dos Disk. No errors were found. I don't believe this is caused by disk error but by bad programming by Microsoft. Hope they'll fix it in the next update.

not sure a update will fix something not everyone has ,I have been using win8 since before it was released ,and have never experienced this on any of my installs, its quite the opposite ,on the one I use now I can bootup and open my mail and browser programs before windows loads the network adapters drive .if it is doing what yours is doing I haven't noticed it,i just clicked to open 3 programs as quick as I could and no pause at all so if it a windows issue how come mine works ok

caperjack said:

not sure a update will fix something not everyone has ,I have been using win8 since before it was released ,and have never experienced this on any of my installs, its quite the opposite ,on the one I use now I can bootup and open my mail and browser programs before windows loads the network adapters drive .if it is doing what yours is doing I haven't noticed it,i just clicked to open 3 programs as quick as I could and no pause at all so if it a windows issue how come mine works ok

Click to expand...

Could have something to do with the fact that you have a 6-core cpu and an ssd disk, I don't know...but many ppl are claiming to have the same issue.

rafael1979 said:

caperjack said:

not sure a update will fix something not everyone has ,I have been using win8 since before it was released ,and have never experienced this on any of my installs, its quite the opposite ,on the one I use now I can bootup and open my mail and browser programs before windows loads the network adapters drive .if it is doing what yours is doing I haven't noticed it,i just clicked to open 3 programs as quick as I could and no pause at all so if it a windows issue how come mine works ok

Click to expand...

Could have something to do with the fact that you have a 6-core cpu and an ssd disk, I don't know...but many ppl are claiming to have the same issue.

Click to expand...

i agree .so it not a win8 issue ,but a computer not yet ready for win8 ,at least you need more ram maybe .also what antivirus are you using ,did the computer come with win8 or did you upgrade.

kind of releated ,im typing this on my macbook that will not update to the latest os10.7 via the app store ,but i could buy 10.7 and install it that way ,but im told it would run but with issues ,so,i will not spend money to buy os 10.7 i will stick with a good working os 10.6.8 and enjoy the laptop .
good luck