For faster startups hit windows+r, type in "msconfig.exe" go to the startup programs section and remove everything except antivirus. Download CCleaner and clean up your hard drive. This will speed things up a little but, but only up to a point. To get any actual performance increases, buy an SSD and install your OS to it.

For the record, a one minute boot plus login is pretty quick.

 

I'll second the SSD suggestion. Not only because SSD's are very good at speeding things up, but because you haven't told us what kind of 60 GB hard drive you have in there now. Is it a slow one? What RPM? From what I've seen most non-SSD's that small are older models.

Also, yes -- CCleaner. Use that to clean things up, then you can use it's StartUp function to turn off anything you don't want to run at StartUp. That should help some.

Uninstall crap you don't intend to use.

...aaaaaaand I've just seen where you said you can't open up the laptop and make changes, why not? You said you added a 60 GB hard drive already, so it's easy to assume you could change it to an SSD.

Otherwise I don't know what to tell you other than to go through your Program Files and Start Menu Folder, Uninstall like mad, Run CCleaner (Registry and Otherwise), Turn off Run @ Start Up programs, and install MalwareBytes to keep yourself free from Malware. The best free Anti-Virus for Win7 is supposedly Microsoft Security Essentials.

Honestly I'm surprised your laptop is "slow." The Sony Vaio line of laptops is supposedly fairly high quality, you have a relatively new Processor, and enough RAM (though not really extra).

Let us know what you do and if it works.

Edit: Also, this should probably be in Tech Support. Though I can understand the confusion given the the "PC discussion" bit in the sub-forum title.

 

Thanks for that Cheddar, I didn't notice.