I will take the advice and create a new electrum wallet and transfer the funds, but how do I go about doing that. Do I have to erase any existing files from the previous wallet, like the file location? Also can I transfer to a new electrum wallet while using both on the same operating system?
Yes... Electrum allows you to have multiple wallet files... you can even have them open at the same time.
Simply use "File -> New/Restore"... give the new wallet a name to make it memorable... then follow the process to create a new "standard wallet -> create a new seed"... write the new seed down for later reference.
Eventually you will end up with 2 wallet files open... your old one and the new one. Get a "receive" address from your
new wallet... and use it to send ALL the funds from your
old wallet.
NOTE: you can set your fee and then type an exclamation mark (!) into the payment amount box to get it to automatically calculate the amount to send ALL available funds to your new wallet.