Netflix on Linux or XP Professional download

[shellylh]

I decided to give my dad my partner's old laptop (Pentium M 1.6Ghz 1GB RAM). After erasing everything and reinstalling Windows XP Pro from the original disk, the computer kept crashing. I am guessing that it had something to do with some drivers. Instead of trying to fix it, I wiped the HD clean and installed Linux Mint on it. I figured that he could do everything on Linux that he needed.

So I get to my parents house today and find out that most of what my dad does on the computer is stream Netflix movies. As far as I can tell, you cannot stream Netflix with Linux (even with Moonlight). If there is a way, I would love to know.

My other option is to install Windows XP Professional back on it (or Windows 7). Unfortunately, both disks are in TX and I am in CA. Is there a way that I can download a version on the web that won't have viruses, etc. I figure that this is (should be) legal since the computer has a license for XP Pro, correct or no?

I also have a legal version of Windows 7 at home (bought a home premium 3 pack and only have it on one computer so far). I could take the laptop back home, install it and send it back but it would be better if I get it working from here. I am not sure if it would be better to run Windows 7 over Windows XP Pro on such an old computer. I am also assuming I cannot use the Windows XP Pro license to run Windows XP home, correct?

Thanks for any advice.

[morphsci]

1 Gb of ram does not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 7 as it requires 1 Gb of free memory. I know because I just upgraded the mom-in-laws laptop and had to upgrade the memory from 1Gb to 2 Gb. I would suggest keeping it an XP machine.

[shellylh]

Good to know about the requirements of Windows 7. I will stick with Linux or XP.

[morphsci]

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply it would not install or run. After I had done the install I was curious as to why it was running like a turd. Then i actually checked the "requirements". It did make a pretty significant difference just going from 1 to 2gb.

[morphsci]

That is what I thought but I actually ran the win7 update compatibility wizard from the cloned hard drive under XP and it gave me a warning of not enough memory when there was 1Gb installed but only 900+Mb available so I assume it is some MS fine-print bullshit.

[Duggeh]

I run Windows 7 x64 on 2gb of ram. Runs snappier than XP x64 did. I wish I'd never bothered with DDR3 though.

[shellylh]

Guess I'll take the laptop back home with me, load XP on it and mail it back to pops. I am not sure if the laptop I have will support 2GB of RAM and cannot find any way to run Netflix on Linux.