Papa Bear

From my point of view, those lags you experience could result from things working in the background which share files with traktor and so interrupt the datastream, in easy words. I would do a complete antivir/malware (did you try the microsoft malicious software removal tool?) checkup, just to make sure this is definitely not the problem.

Did you defrag your HDD?
What switching USBports?
Where is your music located, on the built-in HDD or an external drive?

Start “msconfig” and then select the “normal startup”; this will cause all your changes here to be set back, but if your laptop runs better once it has booted (which will take considerably longer now), you can start deselecting services and programmes step by step. I’m shure it is just a stupid little bug and once you’re over with it you’re gonna slap your face and curse real good 😀

Ah, I forgot – do you have all the latest windows updates installed? THIS could cause serious trouble, if not done.
Make sure you did 😉 And after all are installed, kick the windows updaer out of the startup 😀

There can only be general tips to fix your problem, but maybe one helps.

1.
Hit “Start -> enter “msconfig” in the box -> review the entries under “Services” & “system start(up)”
kill all that ain’t necessary, but be careful not to turn off the NI services. There’s tons of instructions on the web which services you can disable and which better not. Especially things like automatic updated tasks bitch around lots.

2.
Be sure you have the latest drivers for everything, especially:
graphics card, and of course the S2.

3.
Switch off WLAN/Wifi, and and antivirus, Windows Defender and so on – as long as the notebook isn’t connected to the web, there’s no sense having them switched on when djing. Before you do so, make a complete antivirus scan of the whole laptop, just to be sure.

4.
Select all tracks in traktor (whole library) and analyze them all 😉
Let it run overnight if you have to.

Hope it helped.

Audio Technica ATH-Pro 700

+
superb sound, clear bass, good isolation

–
plastic fantastic

Denon. I bought that unit recently and still freeze in awe about what a well made unit it is. Total recommendation.
10* of 5 😉 (though, I gotta admit, I didn’t test the Mixtrack, but I think the heavy metal jacket of the Denon will appeal to you as well).

When I started, I bought the Numark Total Control. In combination with a 5.1 Soundcard and Traktor 3, it offered me much insights into how DJ-Software works and how to map MIDI and all that stuff.
If you know you might possibly need some time to get going, why not buy a cheap controller, or a used one, or just an old one, to learn about all the possibilites you have and to kind of narrow down what you need or want, and invest a bigger amount of money once you can nail your requirements?

Would rid you off the frustration and the thoughts like “man, I spent XXX friggin $ for this piece of S§§§ WHY IS IT NOT WORKING!!!!!!!!”

Aight?