Dell Precision M4800 laptop - broke touchpad connector while disassembling
Did a (admittedly) hasty thermal paste removal and reapplication last night on my Dell Precision M4800 laptop following a YouTube video. Was having some overheating issues, and ultimately the operation was a success as my temps all look great and my fan doesn't run like a jet engine anymore.
That said, in disassembling to get to the heat pipes and CPU/GPU, I think I broke the connector for the touchpad. The cable was not coming off (and/or it might have been a clamp but I thought it was a pull) so in exerting some force the little white plastic piece on top of the connector came off in such a way that cannot be re-affixed. I see copper-ish contacts on the bottom of the white ribbon cable, and I see pins in the connector. My assumption was I needed to just align and secure the cable contacts over the pins, so I taped it down with some foil tape as it was the only thing that would stay in place. But of course, now my touchpad doesn't work. Is there a different way I need this to make contact, or are the chances good that I just busted this beyond repair? The intent was to ultimately sell this laptop but I might have to hang onto it if the touchpad is beyond repair.
Any guidance?