you will see slow speeds booting from USB by the nature of how USB functions, but I don't know if 2 minutes is normal. try using a liveUSB and see if...
Do you have lxpanel? What do you mean by "LXDE (Lubuntu)"? Have you actually installed Lubuntu or are you picking up bits and pieces of LXDE/Lubuntu...
Maybe you have selected Lubuntu Netbook at the login screen. In that case you can log out (or reboot) and select another desktop session, for example...
Not necessarily. Try to find the install media (if available) and the licenses, and check the web sites of those software packages. £300 is too much...
1st Distro used: Knoppix in early 2007 ¦ 1st Distro Installed: Ubuntu 7.10 in Feb 2008
GNU/Linux User #470660 – Ubuntu User #28226
Isaac Asimov: "I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them."