Since the official server is dead, you have two viable options: or Direct Connect via Console . The gold standard for the Call of Duty 2 community today is the latter combined with a community-maintained server list.
Understanding why this error happens is the first step toward fixing it: call of duty 2 awaiting key code authorization
A: Indirectly, yes. Call of Duty 2 hates modern refresh rates. If you have a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, force the game to run at 60Hz. Use a tool like dxvk to wrap DirectX 9 calls to Vulkan. High refresh rates can desync the game's internal clock, causing the authorization handshake to timeout. Since the official server is dead, you have
If the timer is counting up and nothing is happening, you can force a refresh. Press the tilde key ( ) to open the console and type /reconnect Call of Duty 2 hates modern refresh rates