Problem with PCI slots

[xiiliea]

My dad's computer has been having some issues with the wireless networking adapter for a while. The computer sometimes detects it and most of the time doesn't. It doesn't even appear in the device manager when it doesn't (sometimes it appears but with a ! icon).

I also then discovered that the graphics card doesn't seem to be detected as well (opened dxdiag and under Display everything is stated N/A).

I tried to take a look inside the computer (I've never opened a computer before) and there were 4 PCI slots, with varying lengths of the slot into the motherboard:
(from top to bottom)
-White, about 2cm in length ------ ---- <- the approximate length of the holes to insert the card
-Black, about 9cm (most likely specially for the graphics card) ----- -----------------------------------------
-White, about 7cm ---------------------------- ------
-White, about 7cm ---------------------------- ------

Well the wireless adapter card was in the bottom-most 4th slot, so I tried taking it out and moving it to the 3rd slot, but it still can't be detected.

I'm not really sure what to do, or what exactly the problem is. Hopefully someone can help me out. Thanks

 

[Wicked Mystic]

Your motherboard may have PCI and PCI Express slots. So what is your motherboard? Speccy or CPU-Z tells that if you don't know.

And what's that wireless newwork card type? And video card type?

Perhaps you should use Speccy and post all hardware information.

 

[xiiliea]

Hi, thx for the reply.

I screenshotted the motherboard info using CPU-Z.

But I'm unable to find out what the wireless network adapter and graphics card is because the computer doesn't detect them at all, as if they were not present. Any ideas how to find that out? Thanks. (I would like to avoid putting them into this computer I'm using as I don't want to damage it)

 

[Wicked Mystic]

http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/specs-mcp73pv-acer/
http://www.joway.com.hk/ProductShow.Asp?Id=1225

Short white: PCI Express x1
Long black: PCI Express x16
Long white: PCI

Probably integrated graphics, you can probably find drivers (OEM machines suck on driver support) http://www.nvidia.co.uk/download/driverResults.aspx/30561/en-uk (Windows 7 64-bit there). Others http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

Legacy
nForce 6 series
nForce 630i/GeForce 7100

And while display is N/A, that may mean only display (device you are looking at), not video card.

Back to wireless. If connector (that gold plated part) is something like that http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/USB2.0_PCI_Card_Asus-2.jpg

it goes to long white slot.

If like that https://www.usbgear.com/images/PCI-E-U233.jpg

it goes to short white slot.

 

[xiiliea]

My wireless adapter is the type of the first picture you posted, only that it is about half as wide and only 1 circular "hole" for screwing an "antenna" on.

Also, it looks like some bars of the gold plate are "missing". Just stating it but I think it's part of the design.

When I insert the graphics card / wireless card into the slot, I just slot it in right? It fits perfectly. After running the computer for a while, and when I open the computer casing, the graphics card and wireless card are both warm, so I think that the electrical currents are running into it alright.

And sry for no pictures. I'm having a lot of trouble connecting my phone to my computer.

Update:
For some reason it works now. I changed the network adapter to the 3rd slot, from the 4th slot. Now I can get the info of the network adapter.

Realtek 8185 Extensible 802.11b/g Wireless Device
    Connection Name    Wireless Network Connection
    DHCP enabled    Yes
    MAC Address    00-06-4F-70-94-4E

But the wierd thing is that I did try changing it to the 3rd slot before, and it didn't work. Maybe it's "working for a while" like it usually did last time. Will have to wait and see I guess :)

 

[Wicked Mystic]

My wireless adapter is the type of the first picture you posted, only that it is about half as wide and only 1 circular "hole" for screwing an "antenna" on.

Also, it looks like some bars of the gold plate are "missing". Just stating it but I think it's part of the design.

So it's PCI. Yes, missing bars may be just design.

When I insert the graphics card / wireless card into the slot, I just slot it in right? It fits perfectly. After running the computer for a while, and when I open the computer casing, the graphics card and wireless card are both warm, so I think that the electrical currents are running into it alright.

And sry for no pictures. I'm having a lot of trouble connecting my phone to my computer.

Update:
For some reason it works now. I changed the network adapter to the 3rd slot, from the 4th slot. Now I can get the info of the network adapter.

Realtek 8185 Extensible 802.11b/g Wireless Device
    Connection Name    Wireless Network Connection
    DHCP enabled    Yes
    MAC Address    00-06-4F-70-94-4E

But the wierd thing is that I did try changing it to the 3rd slot before, and it didn't work. Maybe it's "working for a while" like it usually did last time. Will have to wait and see I guess :)

May be issue with PCI card slot power or interrupts. Wait if it works, if not, consider buying PCI Express x1 card.