Thanks everyone for the replies.
Confused,
We used the add/hardware wizard and chose "PCI Communications device" becasue it detected the modem as that. We also tried different drivers and managed to install the drivers without being prompted for a com port however when we ran the diagnostics we had an error message "Com Port 3 is already open."
I originally sent him the internal modem just so we could set him up on the internet and let him play around a bit. After reading your posts we have gone with another option. I have sent him an old 33.6 k external modem just so he can get things setup and give it a try. I know it will be slow but he is a new user so shouldn't notice it that much. In the mean time he is looking for a second hand external 56k modem. He is a TV, stereo, video tech by trade so is asking around his contacts and should source one at a good price sooner or later. I knew that internal modems used part of the cpu but I didnt realise that it would use that much.

Actually as I type this dad just phoned and said he has got hold of a Maestro 56k external modem so we will give that a go and hopefully he will be online in the next half hour or so.
Thanks again for your help.