has the laptop suddenly started running slowly, has it changed after installing a piece of software.
if the performance was acceptable historically but has become slower over time then there are several possible pointers
1) your computer may be short on system memory.. if its a fairly modern laptop then there is a chance you could increase the amount of system memory (RAM) quite cheaply.
2) free up tasks or processes that you don't actually need (look at the tasks started up at boot time (RUN msconfig and analyse every task being started). A lot of hardware manufacturers want to install a bit of software that runs all the time (scanners, some display cards, sound cards, and motherboards etc.) usually you dont need the software.
3)make sure you don't have any virsus or worms or other malware. If you are running a competent anti virus then you should be OK (personally I use Norton (£20 from microdirect). Make sure you use a firewall..
4) consider removing the fonts installed on your system.. some you need but if you have got hundreds of fonts then archive them off (using say winzip) and then delete all those excpet the ones you or the system uses (font don't delete tahoma, fonts prefixed with MS, and Arial.. most of the rest can be ditched. get rid of duplicate fonts (eg the smae fnt in bold, xtra bold or itlaicised