modem question

[Paul Heeney]

I have an SupraExpress 56i Pro internal modem on my windows box attached to COM3 and my mouse which is attached to COM1. I have tried to add an external modem for use with linux but i continually get error messages e.g "modem busy/can`t find modem" I do not appear to have a COM2! How can i get my external modem to work without entering my bios and enabling COM2 which i`d be very anxious about doing?           Paul