Windows freezes whenever I try to open programs—could my hard drive be failing?

Changing the processor count in advanced boot options generally won’t speed anything up, so I’d return that setting to its default. Focus on checking the HDD, reviewing Windows error logs if possible, and testing with the M.2 drive. Also consider what changed before the issue began, since a recent update, driver, or hardware problem could help narrow it down.

A damaged Windows installation, malware, or a background process could also cause this. If the computer responds long enough, open Task Manager with Ctrl+Alt+Delete and check whether disk usage is stuck at 100% or whether memory or CPU usage is unusually high. However, if even the Start menu freezes, a failing system drive is still a stronger possibility than a normal startup-app problem.

I’d start with a clean Windows installation on the M.2 drive. Disconnect the old HDD during setup so the installer puts the boot files on the correct drive, then reconnect it afterward only if you need the data. Before wiping anything, make sure important files are backed up and check whether the HDD is reporting errors.

The HDD is the most suspicious part, especially because Windows is installed on it and the slow booting has been ongoing. A failing or heavily degraded drive can make the entire system freeze while Windows waits for it to respond. Check the drive’s health and back up anything important immediately. Installing Windows fresh on the M.2 SSD should make a major difference, assuming the rest of the hardware is healthy.