ok first rule out win8.1 does not sound like the issue but lets be fully sure..
Test your windows for errors
This works in all windows O/S vista Win7, Win8 and Win8.1 windows system file checker :] Copy and past this to note pad and put it on your desktop. As open programs can give you errors when you run this.
...... sfc /scannow ..... ever hear of it if not your going to love this .... it will inspect all the important windows files as well as the windows DLL files. If windows system file checker finds any issues with the windows files and windows DLL files it will replace them. This little tool as well as the event viewer saved me and fully helped me fix my BF4 issues as well as saved my .... many a format since I found it. This is the best toy they ever put in windows :]
For win7 go to start left click in search type cmd and right click cmd pick run as admin
For win 8.1 right click start bottom left of screen and pick command prompt admin
1 - Open administrator command prompt and close web pages and programs like origin.
2 - Type or copy and paste in sfc /scannow and hit enter, This takes 5 min to 15 min SSD vs HD
3 - This can go one of a few ways ..... no errors ... it fixed some errors ..... could not fix all errors...... does not finish checking and errors out ....... and the last one could not fix errors at all :/
4 -After its done reboot and do it again even if you had no errors the first time or had errors, could not fix ... run sfc /scannow again and when its done a second time reboot. You need to do this a and get no errors 2 x in a row ...
5- So if you ran it 2x and no errors your safe you can stop now for now lol, If you had errors first time but not the second then run sfc /scannow again and when its done reboot. You need to get could not find any errors 2 x to be safe. If it still finds errors try and run it a few more times until it finds no errors 2x AND ALWAYS REBOOT BETWEEN RUNNING sfc /scannow
6 - If you get a message indicating that it can not be repaired and you ran sfc /scannow more then 3x in a row on win vista or 7 mm you need a format or try repair win 7 :/ But after format or repair and all updates are done run sfc /scannow to make sure your windows is stable same deal 2x error free reboot between them.
If your O/S is Win8 or Win 8,1 then you can run this next command / line in administrator command prompt. Sadly this does not work for win vista or 7 :/ It will restore the health of your PC and you dont lose anything and it will also fix errors in the registry :]
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth ------- ONLY works for windows 8 and 8.1
7 - When its done reboot
Next part settings from BF4 but they also work for BF3 lol ...
Run the game as Administrator:
Go to the Origin games folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Battlefield 4) and find Bf4.exe. Right click it and go to PROPERTIES, then COMPATIBILITY and check the box next to RUN THIS PROGRAM AS ADMINISTRATOR.
Do the same with BF4_x86.exe as well.
Run Origin as Administrator:
Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin and right click on Origin.exe and go to properties. Then go to compatibility tab and check the box next to RUN AS ADMIN.
Disable Origin in game:
In Origin - Application settings - Origin in Game - disable Origin in game
Origin Cloud Storage turn it off
Origin, settings, General
If still have issue update all this..
Latest version of DirectX see this page
http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/confirmation.aspx?id=35
Reinstall Microsoft C++
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=30679
Update your Microsoft .NET framework.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=30653
Adobe Flash Player update
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Go to Punk Buster site
Download PB then extract files to your desktop then open Punk Buster folder. Click on the PB setup and it will open.
Add your BF4/ BF3 game to punk buster its at the top of Punk Buster.
Then update punk buster again at the top of Punk Buster.
http://www.punkbuster.com/index.php?page=pbsetup.php
Another thing that may be worth trying: run a Clean Boot: http://help.ea.com/en/article/how-to-clean-boot-your-pc/
This should ensure that no programs are interfering in the background.
If all this fails to fix it then try this...
BF4 folder in my documents holds game configs and screen shots even if BF4 is installed on different drive. When you uninstall BF4 it does NOT remove this folder. So when you install the game again you can still have the same issues. Even if its not a new install it is still worth trying as the game cfg could be mucked up.
1- Go to my Documents and remove BF4 folder place it on your Desktop or trash.
2- Be warned you do have to set up your in game settings again.
3-Repair BF4
4- When done go test your game. If it fails reboot your PC and run repair game again and test BF4.