What make model laptop/thinkpad are you using what we need is the spec of your lappie? there is a minimum requirement to play the game! But if you have a new type of laptop then i cant see why not it would run slow?

CPU = ?

Ram = ?

Chipset = ?

GFX card = ?

Sound card = ?

DirectX = ?

Only thing i can say is turn off some of the services, use a low resolution in game, have duplex low & antialias at x0

Make sure you have enough resources not to much running in the background, this can slow your laptop or any PC down. Turn some of your system services off or MSN AIM so on! hope you get it sorted.