56 Using Cards
Card Blanks
Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the card slots. Blanks protect unused slots from
dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no card is installed in the slot; blanks from other
computers may not fit your computer. To remove the blank, see "Removing a PC Card or Blank" on
page58 .
PC Cards
See "PC Card/Express Card" on page131 for information on supported PC Cards.
NOTE: A PC Card is not a bootable device.
The PC Card slot has one connector that supports a single Type I or Type II card. The PC Card slot
supports CardBus technology and extended PC Cards. "Type" of card refers to its thickness, not its
functionality.

PC Card Blanks

Your computer shipped with a plastic blank installed in the PC Card slot. Blanks protect unused slots
from dust and other particles. Save the blank for use when no PC Card is installed in the slot; blanks
from other computers may not fit your computer.
To remove the blank, see "Removing a PC Card or Blank" on page58.

Extended PC Cards

An extended PC Card (for example, a wireless network adapter) is longer than a standard PC Card and
extends outside the computer. Follow these precautions when using extended PC Cards:
Protect the exposed end of an installed card. Striking the end of the card can damage the system board.
Always remove an extended PC Card before you pack the computer in its carrying case.
Installing a PC Card or an ExpressCard
You can install a PC Card or ExpressCard in the computer while the computer is running. The computer
automatically detects the card.
PC Cards and ExpressCards are generally marked with a symbol (such as a triangle or an arrow) to indicate
which end to insert into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion. If card orientation is not
clear, see the documentation that came with the card.
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the
Product
Information Guide
and see "Before Working Inside Your Computer" on page104.
To install a PC Card:
1
Hold the card with its orientation symbol pointing into the slot and the top side of the card facing up.
The latch may need to be in the "in" position before you insert the card.