COD4 Multiplayer - how does the mic-jack fix work?!

[KatanaDV20]

Ok this isnt a problem Im just curious cuz the fix impressed me with its simplicity (rare when it comes to PC games)

I decided to have a go at COD4 multiplayer (yea bit late to the party I know!) but the game never ever started. Always got an iw3mp.exe error. Its a common problem as you can see:

http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=COD4+IW3MP.EXE&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

After looking at threads on other gaming forums where people were suggesting updating with patches, firewall tweaks and whatnot I spotted a one-liner from a gamer and all he said was something along the lines of:

Plug a mic or headphones into your microphone jack it works.

Note he said microphone jack

So I did....and..well it worked like a charm and I played my very first multiplayer game ever

To test it I pulled out my headphones from the mic jack and the game didnt start....

SO Im just curious - how does this fix work? Whats it doing? COD4 doesnt like mic sockets?

Could you technical types shed any light...thanx

 

[[timko]]

I still have COD4 unopened (shrinkwrapped) since the start of the year. I will certainly remember this tip when I get round to playing it. I've already prestiged twice on the 360

 

[Tripnologist]

It could be that because the game has in-built chat, it expects to find a microphone. (obviously it shouldn't matter if you're not using chat but apparently it does)

 

[KaneStatton]

Same happened with me absolutely crazy.