That thing is almost 30 years old, what did he expect you to do, install a flux capacitor? I'm surprised it even powered on. Some people have a weird idea that any computer can just be magically upgraded forever.
Saw a post where someone tried to run a modern game on a computer from like 2005. The comments were full of people explaining that the hardware just can't handle new software, no matter what you install. It's like trying to make a lawnmower engine power a semi truck. The old Compaq probably doesn't even have the right kind of processor to start the Windows 11 setup.