In message 20150309112330.2f038634@jspc, Johnny
writes
The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 15-3531.

I see that that model comes with Windows 8.1 with Bing. Does this mean
it is a WimBoot machine having to decompress Windows on the fly?

If it is, that would explain slowness with a 5400rpm drive. If it isn't
I'd check whether it is really just the drive that is making it slow, or
whether it is what is running on the machine.
--
Bill