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The white slot circled in this photo is a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot. |
Many people know to check the Device Manager when a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card doesn’t work properly. However, sometimes the problem is physical, such as a bad installation or dirty contacts on the card.
 Check Connections
To check a PCI card’s connection, first shut down and unplug your computer. Carefully tilt the computer case onto its side. Usually, you can open the case by removing a set of screws from the back of the case and then sliding off the case’s side panel. If you aren’t sure how to open the case, check the documentation.
Begin by checking the PCI card to see if it is properly seated in the PCI slot. The PCI slots typically appear in rows along the lower-left side of the motherboard. These slots are usually white and slightly less than 4 inches long. (If you don’t see the group of white slots on your motherboard, check the documentation to determine the location and appearance of the PCI slots in your system). Make sure that the card is inserted straight and that it is firmly seated in the slot. You should also make sure that the card is attached to the backplane of the case with a mounting screw. Make sure the screw is attached tightly enough to hold the card in place but not so tight that it has caused the card to tilt or sit crookedly in its slot.
Remove & Clean The Card
You may want to clean the PCI card’s connectors. This is something you should rarely need to do; however, sometimes a card that seems to be defective only requires some polishing to counter the affects of gradual oxidation or dust accumulation. | 
To reseat the PCI card, carefully guide it back into the PCI slot by using gentle pressure to press the card straight downward. |
First, you’ll need to remove the PCI card from its slot. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the mounting screw that connects the PCI card’s metal side bracket from the case’s backplane. Set the mounting screw aside where you won’t lose it so that you can reattach the card later. To remove expansion cards from most PCI slots, you simply lift the card up and out of the slot. Try not to touch the card’s circuits or metal connectors. Instead, try to grasp the card by its metal bracket and the plastic edges of the card. Gently lift the card straight up and out of its slot. PCI cards aren’t as delicate as you’d expect, but you should still take precautions. By lifting the card straight out of the slot rather than by lifting one corner out first, you minimize the likelihood of damage to the card.
Once you have the card out of the case, carefully set the card on a solid, clean, nonmetallic surface. To clean the card’s connectors, you will need a clean rubber eraser. The best thing you can do is buy a new pencil. The eraser at the top of a pencil is an ideal size for cleaning a PCI card’s connectors.
Use the eraser to very gently rub the gold contacts on the PCI card. (The contacts are along the edge of the card that slides down into the motherboard’s PCI slot.) After you use the eraser to polish the contacts on one side of the card, you will need to turn the card over and carefully polish the contacts on the other side of the card, as well. Before you reinsert the card, use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe any debris from the PCI card’s contacts.
Reseat The Card
After you clean the card, you can reseat it in the PCI slot. Hold the card carefully using your left hand to hold the metal bracket and your right hand to hold the right side of the card along the very edge. Line the contacts on the bottom of the card up with the openings in the PCI slot and gently press the card down into the slot. Make sure the card is aligned evenly. Use the mounting screw that you set aside earlier to secure the PCI card to the backplane of the case.
After you have reseated the PCI card, you can place the cover back on the case and secure it with the proper screws. Finally, plug the power cord back in. 
by Kylee Dickey
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