hold on Mad_jock!
dont forget that you can do digital audio extraction from the CD as well as from the cable (analog)
So if he is set up for analog, he wont get sound from the CD if the cable is missing.
(this isnt relevant for dvd's though, its all digital there)
Try this free program, it will address your driver issues
VLC media player - Open Source Multimedia Framework and Player
Best bet though is to go to teamviewer.com and install their app. Then get someone who knows their way around a pc to do the same, then connect to yours and help you muddle through it..