The original executable contains a function called CheckCD() or similar. When the game launches, it calls the Windows API to see if the disc is in drive D:\ or E:. If not, it throws error 10013: "Please insert the correct CD-ROM."
Since EA no longer supports MOHAA's original CD-check infrastructure (SafeDisc), many legal scholars argue that No-CD cracks fall under
: Because patch v1.11 changed significant parts of the game’s engine and multiplayer code, a crack specifically designed for v1.11 is required to avoid crashes or "version mismatch" errors when connecting to servers. Preservation and Accessibility
