It sounds like it is a disk problem. If it is reporting from a Windows api then the disk is rotating and files are being read. But there may be soft or notso soft errors. Re-installing windows may be the answer, but with notso soft errors it is a gamble too far IMNSHO.

My reaction would be to upgrade to a newer computer and buy a USB caddy/enclosure for the appropriate style of disk - SATA or non etc. You could make it a deal with the shop that they sell you the correct one for the disk. And never let the old PC go without removing the disk - it will end up in Nigeria and they will deep scan it for data, even the deleted stuff!.

I have a stack of old disks and have, in the past, successfully run old software from them on new OS's from USB. It really depends on how married to the registry the s/w is. A lot of freeware didn't do that too extensively.

The bonus is that you could have continuity with all your old files, and probably with the installation disks for the apps you are used to, transition is less painful (a bit of a lottery, but not with your data). The new OS will be learning curve. If Win10, a big one. Win 7 if you are getting a second hand PC is a compromise. Anything older and this scenario will revisit sooner than 10 years, maybe!

Linux is not the best solution, not from a hardware problem but the learning curve and new apps and learning them. If you have a real needs for Linux then you put in the effort, if all you want to get on with what you have been doing, Linux is a challenge.