Win 8.1 - Hit windows key, type pgm name, hit enter triggers high cpu usage

This is a solid problem and very reproducible. 

Say I want to just run an installed program like Notepad, Firefox or whatever. The program does not matter.

  1. I hit the windows key to switch to the programs menu
  2. I Start typing the pgm name eg  NOTEPAD
  3. It pops up on the screen and I just hit enter
  4. Notepad starts on the desktop
  5. Windows explorer goes to high CPU values and stays there
  6. Windows Search Indexer does too but not quite as high and slowly lowers a bit as Windows Explorer keeps hogging CPU.
  7. At this point, Notepad is open and the keyboard and mouse are getting sluggish.
  8. If I go back to the start programs page, no search box is present and it looks normal.
  9. If I'd had the forethought to start the task manager before I did #1 I can END TASK the Windows Explorer and Search indexer. Otherwise, it may take a long time just to get the task manager up and running to do this.
  10. Finally I Run New Task to start Explorer.exe and things are back to normal

Otherwise, this condition will continue indefinitely until I kill WIndows Explorer.

See: 



  • Edited by RVBudd 16 hours 17 minutes ago
November 18th, 2013 2:23pm

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