Mousepad issues.

Question

First off, I really love this computer, even after spending hours getting used to Windows 8. There's only one issue: the mouse touch pad. Since the day I bought it, the touch pad has lagged a bit, even freezing up and being unresponsive for a moment or two. Sometimes it disappears all together, sometimes it just sits there unresponsive. Sometimes it begins moving again, or appears again on screen, or I have to manually restart my laptop. This is becoming more frequent and really beginning to become an issue while I'm doing school work.

Answer 1

chickenwuss
Welcome to the HP Community Forum.
The issue may -- or may not -- be the mousepad settings.
Depending on your particular MousePad setup, the following may be more or less useful -- not all MousePads have the same setups or the same level of flexibility when it comes to what they can do. 
For example, on a high-performance system, MousePad might be a Super-Mouse and do all sorts of cool stuff.  On a Normal Notebook, Mouse might be more of an Accountant-Mouse:  good Mouse but not Super-Mouse with a Cape.
So, take a look and see if there is something you can do with the settings on your MousePad:
Using and Configuring the ClickPad
Using and Troubleshooting the TouchPad (Windows 8)
====================================================
Commentary
According to the standard Specification Sheet for this notebook,  the system is only carrying 4GB memory.  That is "enough", but not an abundance of RAM.   The wireless, network, disk, and the processor are adequate.  If you put any strain on the system, it is going to respond to that stress and slow down.
This means you might want to conserve your resources when you use the computer to get the most from it.
There are some things you can do to help your computer perform better for you.
Windows 8.1 -- really starting with Windows 8 -- has this wonderful new Start Screen environment where everything you ever wanted at your fingertips is "right there" in bright, shiny, blinking Tiles.  The trouble with bright, shiny, blinking Tiles is that they use memory to keep them "active".  Active Tiles drain your computer of resources that you could be hoarding for other purposes.
Take a look at your Start Screen:
If you have "active" Tiles on the Screen that you can live without:  Right-Click >  Turn Live Tile Off 
You can save resources on your Desktop by using a Plain background instead of a fancy backdrop.  That means if you are using your favorite photographs as a background, you might reconsider and save your photo gazing for your iPad.  Change the background to plain, boring, yukky, gray.
You can also try this or perhaps a "custom" setting where you select "some of the settings"
Windows key + y (Opens the System) >
Advanced System Settings > Tab Advanced >
Under Performance > Settings
CHECK "Adjust for best performance"> OK
==========================================================
If the system slows down at odd times, it may be slowing down because there is a program running that is dragging on the system.  You can take a look at the system and see what it is doing and which programs are running.
Sometime perfectly innocent programs can "run amuck" and hang up -- Internet Explorer might be hung up on a Web Page, your email might get stuck,  Word  might take a nose dive.  The Task Manager and the Resource Monitor can track what is actually happening and how much memory and resource is being used.
How to Use the New Task Manager in Windows 8
NOTE:       
Task Manager > Tab Performance > scroll to bottom of screen > Click to Open Resource Monitor
===========================================================
General Maintenance Tips for the long haul:
Improving System Performance without Adding Memory (Windows 8)
Click the Kudos Thumbs-Up to say Thank You!
And...Click Accept as Solution when my Answer provides a Fix or Workaround!
I am pleased to provide assistance on behalf of HP. I do not work for HP. 
Kind Regards,
Dragon-Fur