u/ApprehensiveSea4003

Currently running a 3060 ti at 1080p, i9-9900, 32gb ram.
This is a problem I've had for a while but just tried to get used to it. Now I both got a new current gpu which I used DDU to install, and new monitor but it still happens. Previously I always used a 144hz monitor with a 60hz side monitor which is said to be bad. I finally replaced it with another 144hz though windows says it's running at 143.99.
I finally realize this seems to only happen when my primary monitor has everything minimized and the desktop is showing. No wallpaper engine or anything, just default windows wallpaper. I'll have visual stutters on various UI elements, like the taskbar, my foobar2000, or scrolling through windows browser or whatever. If I full screen something on the primary monitor, everything moves smooth again. If I revert to single display everything is okay too. Fullscreen games run fine. What can this be indicative of? I'm using two display port cables, they could be old and mismatched if that matters.
Overall, my PC runs fine but this specific instance bothers me.

Seagate STEB4000100 I've used since 2016
I accidentally bumped the usb port while moving stuff around my desk, then it disconnected and attempted to reconnect itself. Now ever since then windows gives this message when trying to access it, not even chkdsk can get past this. It still appears as a device. I briefly tried a data recovery software but stopped it after a few seconds because I realized I need another hdd anyways, it did recover a few things though but I can't retrieve them without paying.
So I browsed a wiki on another sub, talking about disk image https://old.reddit.com/r/datarecoverysoftware/wiki/imaging_guide
Is this applicable in my situation?