After effects freezes at around 18% while opening

A few of my projects will hang up during opening. Their Auto Saves do the same. There is no common footage used, and importing them into another project causes it hang too. I can move the entire project to another computer and it will open. I can remove all of the footage used in the project and it willl then open.

This problem has started on an update and pesrsisted through AE version upgrades. now at AE 22. Tried Downgrading with no luck.. Any suggestions?

Windows 10