Dell e1505 laptop problems- running slow in cold?!?!?

The slow component in your cold laptop is your LCD or liquid crystal display. LCDs work in a narrow range of temperatures. The colder it gets below room temperature, the slower they react. Finally, as you get closer to freezing, they completely stop working. I found that out with my GPS when it was left out in the car one winter morning and the screen refused to work until the car warmed up a bit.