Max Payne 3 is pausing itself randomly

I just purchased Max Payne 3 from Steam. This game pauses itself randomly (the same behaviour as if you were to hit the escape key on your keyboard), and I don't know what the issue with because I have not experienced this with any other game (and I have a lot of games). It's not just me that is experiencing this: . Here are my system specifications:

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504) Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware System Model: Aurora-R4 BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/08/12 15:27:32 Ver: 04.06.05 Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3960X CPU @ 3.30GHz (12 CPUs), ~3.3GHz Memory: 16384MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 16336MB RAM Page File: 3296MB used, 29374MB available Windows Dir: C:\Windows Card name: AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series (i use two of these in CROSSFIREX mode) Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x679A) DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz) Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_679A&SUBSYS_0B001002&REV_00 Display Memory: 1670 MB Dedicated Memory: 1950 MB Shared Memory: 3816 MB Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (120Hz) Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor Monitor Model: S27A950D Monitor Id: SAM079F Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (119.982Hz) Output Type: Displayport External Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1124 (English) Driver Version: 8.961.0.0

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4 Answers

The recently released patch should alleviate the issue, if not, try using msconfig to disable sound drivers you aren't using on startup (Startup tab). If that doesn't work, go to device manager and disable sound devices you aren't using.

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I tried all the fixes posted online as well as the ones suggested by RockStar with negative results.

Finally I figured out what was causing my"Pausing Issue".

Simply disabling Microsoft .NET Framework 4 didn't appear to have any effect on the game. It would still pause during game play.

What finally worked for me is complete uninstall of Microsoft .NET Framework 4. I then reinstalled Max Payne 3 and had not experience a single pause.

I have crashplan installed and Max Payne 3 pauses every time crashplan starts a backup or scann files. I workaround the problem by telling crashplan to sleep for some hours.

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I know this is an old issue, but nothing was working for me with the pausing issue. Then I noticed my computer was waking by itself after I installed Max Payne 3.

I went into device manager and under mouse /keyboard clicked power management and checked "Don't allow device to wake computer". Although, I now have to hit my power button to wake computer, my pausing issue has gone away.