you can run and install windows vista ultimate on that machine and windows will downscale everything but the ram will defintly hold it back. When i start it up it automatically starts using 50% of my pc ram. (I have 1.5 gbs) Thats 756 being used just on startup so it will most likely lag. Does he have a un-used flash he could use readyboost to increase the ram although it only works on some flash drives.