Installation Guide by Jon Donnis
This guide explains how to install and run the original DVD version of Call of Duty Game of the Year Edition on a modern Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. The DVD release uses an older disc protection system called SafeDisc, and Windows 10 and 11 no longer support that system. Because of this, the game will not launch from the disc without updating it. The steps below use the final official patch released for the game, which removes the need for the DVD to be in the drive.
First, insert the Game of the Year Edition DVD and install the game as normal. If the installer does not start automatically, open This PC, double click your DVD drive, and run Setup.exe. Follow the on screen instructions and install the game to the default location unless you have a reason to change it. Once installation finishes, do not try to launch the game yet.
Next, install the official 1.5 patch for Call of Duty. This is the final update released for the original 2003 version of the game and it removes the disc check that causes problems on Windows 10 and 11. Make sure you download the correct 1.5 patch specifically for the original Call of Duty, not United Offensive. Run the patch file and allow it to update the installed game. When it completes, the game no longer requires the DVD in the drive to start.
After patching, it is important to make sure certain Windows features are enabled. Press the Windows key, type Windows Features, and open Turn Windows features on or off. In the list that appears, find Legacy Components and make sure DirectPlay is ticked. Click OK and allow Windows to install it if prompted. This helps older games run correctly.
You should also install the DirectX 9.0c runtime, as Call of Duty was designed for that version. Windows 10 and 11 include newer DirectX versions, but they do not automatically include all older components. Installing the official DirectX 9.0c End User Runtime ensures the required files are present.
Now locate the game's main executable file. By default it is found in C, Program Files or Program Files x86, Call of Duty. Right click cod.exe, choose Properties, then open the Compatibility tab. Tick Run this program as an administrator. If the game still refuses to launch, also tick Run this program in compatibility mode and select Windows XP Service Pack 3. Click Apply, then OK.
You should now be able to launch the game directly from cod.exe without the DVD in the drive. If everything has been done correctly, Call of Duty should start normally on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
This guide applies specifically to the original 2003 release of Call of Duty in its Game of the Year Edition PC DVD form.
Links:
Buy the game from Amazon at https://amzn.to/4tTKXKe
Call of Duty 1.5 Patch file for the original game executable update:
This is the official patch that updates Call of Duty to version 1.5, which removes the DVD check and lets the game launch on newer versions of Windows.
DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010):
This package from Microsoft's archived download centre adds the older DirectX 9.0c side-by-side libraries that many older games need to run on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If you cannot reach that archived package for DirectX, Microsoft's official DirectX web installer links can be found by searching for "Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer" on Microsoft's download site.
These URLs are correct as of the time this was checked and match the files needed to update the original Call of Duty PC DVD release to work on current versions of Windows.
