I found a promising thread that suggested opening the "Event Viewer" from the start button as soon as the focus shifts. When I checked it, there was a "gupdate" service scheduled to automatically search for updates for Google software. I set it to manual, and am hoping that is the issue.
Also I honestly haven't even looked at Windows 10 but I know that when I switch to it there'll be a bunch of shit that will just inexplicably stop working on my PC. Also I hate Windows 8 with a passion, which has tempered my stubbornness about keeping Windows 7 until I get a new PC lol.