When my computer started up one day I got the following error:
"Hardware Version 16 detected ...etc"
I couldn't find it mentioned here, but I solved it by removing the side of my tower and giving the card a really good wiggle.
Hardware Version 16 detected startup error
just to add a little more to panic 
if you switch the power off, there's still a significant amount of electricity in the capacitors of the system ! Depending on how you move the board in and out you may damage something not immediately obvious, like those damages by static electricity which have almost no regular pattern.
I rarely (never) see people in service taking proper caution with gounding, waiting unplugging powercords etc, so sooner or later something will happen.
The more often a board is plugged in and out the higher the risk.
be careful, tom
if you switch the power off, there's still a significant amount of electricity in the capacitors of the system ! Depending on how you move the board in and out you may damage something not immediately obvious, like those damages by static electricity which have almost no regular pattern.
I rarely (never) see people in service taking proper caution with gounding, waiting unplugging powercords etc, so sooner or later something will happen.
The more often a board is plugged in and out the higher the risk.
be careful, tom
well, I just stumbled across something about PCI slots that I didn't know and which fits perfectly with Gary's cleaning proposal 
ALL signal-, ground- and powerconnectors of the slot are required to have PERFECT contact. If a single one (even ground) pin lacks connection the whole thing is suspect to wierd behaviour.
Since we don't know if corrosive processes start on the slot connectors or the card pins, better extend the cleaning procedure to the slots, too.
Use a small piece of regular printing paper, fold a couple of times that it has some resistance while inserted in the slot and with pure alcohol (aethanol from the pharmacie) should do the job.
For those interested in the techie details just google for 'pci signaling' but it's rather tough stuff. I could follow the basics of the subject but really didn't know anything about the details
My respect to all those who are able to handle this.
cheers, Tom
ps: yes Hubird, I'm good at that stuff all I wanted was the pinout of the 2 different slots and if nothing serious is at the location of the notch I'd just take a saw and cut in the whole myself 
DON'T DO IT, I'm just kidding - I know NOTHING yet
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2003-08-21 18:39 ]</font>
ALL signal-, ground- and powerconnectors of the slot are required to have PERFECT contact. If a single one (even ground) pin lacks connection the whole thing is suspect to wierd behaviour.
Since we don't know if corrosive processes start on the slot connectors or the card pins, better extend the cleaning procedure to the slots, too.
Use a small piece of regular printing paper, fold a couple of times that it has some resistance while inserted in the slot and with pure alcohol (aethanol from the pharmacie) should do the job.
For those interested in the techie details just google for 'pci signaling' but it's rather tough stuff. I could follow the basics of the subject but really didn't know anything about the details
My respect to all those who are able to handle this.
cheers, Tom
ps: yes Hubird, I'm good at that stuff
all I wanted was the pinout of the 2 different slots and if nothing serious is at the location of the notch I'd just take a saw and cut in the whole myself DON'T DO IT, I'm just kidding - I know NOTHING yet
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2003-08-21 18:39 ]</font>