UE 4.17.2 Source Errors and Issues HEEEELP!

My computer will not run anything more then 4.17.2 period. need to make some upgrades for sure. I did download and successfully compile 4.21 though, point is to make a dedicated server. Followed everything on the forums about that and successfully got a server running with 4.21 BUT cant edit my project cuz it wont open… SO… i downloaded the 4.17.2 because i know it runs. I have the release version and the source version. I can successfully compile the engine but my project throws errors… I dont have a screen shot at this time but will get one. something along a command that i need to check if i have proper rights to execute… been reading and reading about other people having the same issue and every answer is the same “compile the project, build it, using the editor” fine. open the editor and its frozen at 45% and i mean FROZEN. so another month of reading and researching and answer is “its due to the shader compiler doing its thing to load the resources for the editor. leave it run for an hour and a half”… ok… so i leave it… 3 DAYS and it doesnt inch past 45%… I isolate performance monitoring for the shader compiler in my resources monitor… turns out shader is being lazy and only using an average of .66% CPU and 312Mb of ram… nothing on HDD or network… Ive been sprouting greys over this for a few months now… someone PLEASE have the answers for me…