Is this a BIOS problem: Insert miniPCI-e ==> nothing

[petrack]

My laptop has a mini-PCI-express slot, which is designed for a restricted list of WWAN cards. (It's a Lenovo Thinkpad 420, 4178-AFU, but I think that's irrelevant)

I have a mini-PCI-express-to-PCI-Express adapter, which I am hoping to use to add a GPU to my laptop. (It's the PE4C-PM3E V1.2 shown at http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4C.html, but this is also irrelevant I think)

I am running Windows 8.1.

But when I put the mini-PCI-e card into the slot, and power everything up, Windows reacts by doing .... nothing at all:
1. I go to device manager and choose "scan for new hardware" .... nothing
2. I go to "Devices and Printers" and choose "add a device"..... nothing
3. I go to the new metro "Change PC Settings" app and try to add the device... nothing


Am I correct to think that if my problem were some issue relating to a BIOS whitelist, that I would at least see an error. Since I get no reaction whatsoever, may I conclude that this is the wrong forum in which to be asking for help?

(If I'm correct, well, then this is the wrong place to ask for help... but PLEASE HELP!! any ideas of what to do next? Is there anything I can do other that write to the manufacturer and start an RMA process?

If a BIOS whitelist can cause the PC to be totally silent when I insert an unsupported card, please let me know.

thank you very much