Video card stuck in PCI-E slot

[DL402]

I recently received a replacement GPU fan, however I was unable to remove my 8600 GT card from the pci-e slot. I unscrewed the screw that held it down, and I even removed the locking lever, but I could only manage to get half of the card out (the half which was held down by the lever), the other half opposite of where the lever used to be won't budge. I tried to use a heavy amount of force while being careful not to damage any components yet the card will not move.
Here's is a picture I took of the card: http://img688.imageshack.us/i/me2aa.jpg/
As stated I cannot remove the left side of the card out of the slot, whereas I can move the right side about half way. Thanks.

 

[RebateMonger]

Please don't take this as an insult. But did you loosen the hold-down screws NEXT to the stuck PCI-E card? These can definitely catch the edge of an installed card and stop its removal. It's hard to see this sometimes.

 

[nboy22]

I used to have a case that had a little metal stub that stuck out. That little metal stub was conveniently in front of the AGP slot (older computer). It made it pretty difficult to get the video card in/out, I actually had to bend the case back with my hand a little bit, and then slide the card in. My guess is that obviously it's stuck on the side that's closes to the back of the case.. If you can you might even be able to unscrew your mobo screws and move your mobo out of place so you can get to the graphics card easier, although I would only do that as a last resort.

 

[DL402]

Please don't take this as an insult. But did you loosen the hold-down screws NEXT to the stuck PCI-E card? These can definitely catch the edge of an installed card and stop its removal. It's hard to see this sometimes.

Yeah, as I said in the original post, I've removed the screw.

I used to have a case that had a little metal stub that stuck out. That little metal stub was conveniently in front of the AGP slot (older computer). It made it pretty difficult to get the video card in/out, I actually had to bend the case back with my hand a little bit, and then slide the card in. My guess is that obviously it's stuck on the side that's closes to the back of the case.. If you can you might even be able to unscrew your mobo screws and move your mobo out of place so you can get to the graphics card easier, although I would only do that as a last resort.

I don't think that's the case at all, there's really nothing obstructing it.

 

[stlcardinals]

What motherboard do you have? What case do you have?

Are you sure it's not the lock on the pci-e slot? I know i've ran across some that are a real pita to get out.

 

[DL402]

This is my motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130185
MSI P43 Neo3-F LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard
And my case is an Antec Sonata II

If the lock you're referring to is the little tab/lever usually at the right of the slot, no, as I've stated in the first post I removed that.

 

[stlcardinals]

Can you verify that it is stuck in the slot and not the case?

Remove the adjacent PCI slot covers. Carefully unscrew the motherboard and try to lift it out with the card in it. If not, I would say it is stuck to your case, most likely the bottom of the pci bracket on the video card.

 

[DL402]

I really don't want to remove the mobo just because everything connected to it in the case is completely cramped and it would be a giant hassle, but nothing at all is obstructing the video card, so I'm mostly positive it's not the case.

 

[RebateMonger]

Don't know what else it could be. Please let us know when you find a solution. I've been inserting and removing cards from PCs since 1987 and the only "stuck" cards I've seen were because:

a) Video (or other) cable not disconnected from rear of card
b) Case rear bent or not square to the motherboard
c) Hold-down screw in the NEXT slot is in the way
d) AGP or PCI-E motherboard latch not released

The lower "tail" of a card sometimes needs to be bent to allow insertion into the slot, but it'd have to be REALLY bent to cause the card to prevent its removal.

 

[DL402]

Well the thing is I don't wanna go complete ape and try my hardest to yank it out, which some of my friends have told me to do, since this is my only video card and I don't have an onboard video, so if either the card or the slot is damaged in the process I'm really out of luck in terms of having a computer to use.

 

[RebateMonger]

The other "stuck" card I've seen was a PC133 memory module that was made from an overly-thick PC board and had zero chamfer on its edges. Inserting it was difficult and when it was removed it tore up several wire contacts inside the motherboard memory connector. With a microsocope and a fine tool I was able to "repair" the wire contacts, but they were no longer reliable.

 

[Raduque]

The narrowed end of the video card's backplate is probably caught on the case. Undo the lugs on the backplate of the card, the ones where the video cable screws into, and you should be able to remove the card.

 

[DL402]

I don't really know which lugs you are talking about...I provided an image in my first post, care to circle the area you're referring to?
Thanks.

 

[TheStu]

Ok, so the card is in the PCIe slot, you want to remove it.

You unscrew the backplane from the case (the backplane is the metal piece where the DVI/VGA ports are located).

You unscrew that, and now you need to fiddle with the handle on the back, you approach the handle (that you already broke off, I know) from the CPU side and move it in that direction.

Once that is done, you rock the card back toward front of the case, and then lift in a direction perpendicular to motherboard.

Out of curiosity, do you have any DVI-VGA adapters left in? I knew a guy in college that did that quite a few times.

When the other guy mentioned unscrewing the backplane, that can usually be accomplished by undoing the bolts on either side of the DVI ports.

 

[AFurryReptile]

You could probably just take it to your local computer shop, plop it on the desk, and say "how do I remove this?". I've seen even best buy do this for free.

 

[DL402]

TheStu, I've tried that before, but the card won't budge as if it was melted/superglued to the slot or something (hope that's not the case ). Also, yes I took out the dvi-vga adapter. Nothing is obstructing the card, I could take more pics if you guys want.

All the PC shops around here are run by people who try to rip you off. I might consider taking it to best buy if they would do it for free and somehow guarantee I'd get something in return if they break it (I've read a lot of bad stories about geeksquad =/).