The computer is 7 years old
Seems like you do have a failing hard drive. I have asked some of the tech experts to look at this and they do agree that this is what is happening.
You should stop all other use of your computer and focus on complete backup of any and all important saved files, media, messages, tunes, documents, etc. that you wish to keep.
Back-up should be to an external Hard Drive or similar removable media.
I recommend you use Puppy Linux to do your backup, since it runs from optical disk and RAM, not touching or interfering with the hard drive (which is failing)
Puppy Linux
Why go to the trouble of using Puppy Linux?
Because if your HD really is failing, then it only has a short period of time left as functional... short-time-to-die.
Running your Windows and software to accomplish back-up will stress and possibly use-up your remaining HD functionality.
Puppy Linux will not further stress the HD.
If you already have your important files backed up... then good for you and ignore my comments.
Replacing a Hard Drive is relatively simple, even in a Laptop.
And Hard Drives are relatively inexpensive to purchase for replacement.
The time-consuming part will be reinstalling your Operating System (Windows), updating, and all of your application software programs.
Sorry you are probably facing the above scenario.