Abstract: A personal computer (PC) card insertion method and apparatus uses a subset of connector ground terminals and pins, located at either end of the connector, for detecting the onset of a card insertion. The host PC card slot connector has pull-up resistors for keeping the subset of ground terminals at a high logic level (V.sub.CC). Also, the subset of pins are made longer than the signal pins so that when an insertion of a PC card begins, the grounding of one or more of the subset of pins indicates that a PC card insertion has begun, allowing the host system to take the necessary precautions to ensure an orderly acceptance of the card without any undesirable system affects that might otherwise result. Also, a logic network for using the subset of connector terminals as additional grounding connections is provided upon completion of the insertion.