The official way to play Quake 3 Arena without a CD is to update the game to the Point Release 1.32 patch or later. Starting with this version, the CD check was removed by Id Software, allowing you to run the game from your hard drive without the physical disc. Patch Download Links
The most stable and "official" way to get No-CD functionality is to install the Quake 3 Arena Point Release 1.32. This update was the final major patch from the developers and serves several purposes: Removes the requirement to have the CD in the drive. Fixes numerous bugs found in the retail 1.0 version. quake 3 arena no cd patch link
You can play Quake III Arena without a CD by installing the latest official patches or using a modern community engine. The official 1.32 Point Release and subsequent 1.32c patch natively remove the CD check. 1. Official Method (Patches) The official way to play Quake 3 Arena
However, there is one irritating ritual that veterans remember all too well: "Please insert the correct CD-ROM." You own the original CD: Stop using the legacy
The Quake 3 Arena no-CD patch is a modification that eliminates the need for the original game CD to play the game. The patch, usually around 1.5 MB in size, is applied to the game executable, allowing players to bypass the CD check.
..::LvL Essential Files: Provides direct links to the 1.32 and 1.32c files for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Modern Recommendations