Advice sought: How to losen a stuck PCI card?

  • Thread starter Thread starter notme
  • Start date Start date
N

notme

I am trying to remove a NIC PCI card from a functioning motherboard
that I don't wish to damage.

The card has been in the slot for about three years but refuses to
budge under the strain I am prepared to exert (for fear of damaging
the motherboard)

Is there an electrically safe product I could spray on the slot that
would assist removal? Would Electrical Contact Cleaner be OK?
 
notme said:
I am trying to remove a NIC PCI card from a functioning motherboard
that I don't wish to damage.

The card has been in the slot for about three years but refuses to
budge under the strain I am prepared to exert (for fear of damaging
the motherboard)

Is there an electrically safe product I could spray on the slot that
would assist removal? Would Electrical Contact Cleaner be OK?
Click to expand...


don't use contact cleaner...
it may be something as simple as the bracket is being held in by a slightly
overlapping one ...adjacent

if not...take the adjoining pci cards out
then wiggle the stubborn one a bit...and try pulling from slightly
different angles ...i'm sure it will come out
 
I am trying to remove a NIC PCI card from a functioning motherboard
that I don't wish to damage.

The card has been in the slot for about three years but refuses to
budge under the strain I am prepared to exert (for fear of damaging
the motherboard)

Is there an electrically safe product I could spray on the slot that
would assist removal? Would Electrical Contact Cleaner be OK?
Click to expand...

Philo gave good suggestions, to verify that an adjacent
bracket or screw isn't catching on the NIC's bracket.
Wiggle card fore and aft, moreso than up or down. If the
card is simply a PCB that's poorly finished and friction in
the slot is making removal difficult, use two fingers behind
that PCI slot to hold down the two adjacent slots above and
below that slot, such that when you pull on the card, it is
not flexing the motherboard.

There is no product to spray that should assist in removal.
Typically a penetrant or lubricant is not a good idea as it
may damage capacitors, leave a sticky film that fouls
contacts and make a mess in general. A residue-free contact
cleaner might be tried but is not intended for this use and
may not help at all. If the PCB of the NIC is rough it
could even absorb a little and swell up, probably not with
fiberglass PCB but I would try other methods before spraying
anything.
 
In addition to the other suggestions, sometimes the motherboard is
mounted slightly askew putting pressure on the mounted cards. As a
last resort you could try loosening the screws for the other cards &
screws for the mobo & see if you can gently wiggle release it free.

A computer should completely dissemble without exerting great force on
any screw or board. You should really try to insert & release cables
& boards in as straight a motion as possible (try to avoid wiggling if
you can).

Once again lubricant is NEVER advisable for these parts.
 
Back
Top