256mb ram....ack, with that you should be able to run one word-processing program at a time....as long as your browser isn\'t open.

Seriously though...
WinXP = 128mb ram usage(system hog)
Background programs = 128mb ram usage
You have 0mb ram to run PS with.
PS requires about 450mb to run itself, in this alpha form.
I have win98 SE - it uses about 32mb ram, and due to my 1337 computer skills, I am able to disable every process I don\'t need, leaving my 512mb with 480mb free, more than enough for PS.(as long as I don\'t keep my browser open)