How to repair broken touchpad connector on board ?
Let’s say you were fixing a laptop yourself and accidentally damaged the touchpad connector or any other similar connector. The problem is the touchpad connector soldered to the motherboard and it’s impossible to replace it with regular soldering tools. Also, these connectors are not sold separately which makes the replacement even more impossible.
On the following picture you see a typical touchpad connector. The connector has Đ° white base (permanently attached to the motherboard) and locking tab (moving part).
In order to unlock the connector you lift up the left side of the locking tab. The locking tap opens up at a 90 degree angle and releases the touchpad cable. After that you pull the cable from the connector.
On the following picture you see the damaged connector. I wasn’t careful enough and separated the locking tab from the base.
Unfortunately there is no way to attached broken tab back.
Here’s how I fixed it.
Insert the touchpad cable back into the connector. The touchpad cable has contacts on the bottom side – the side which is facing the motherboard.
In order to work properly the cable contacts have to touch contacts inside the connector but it’s not happening when the locking tab is missing.
Find a small piece of plastic. It has to fit inside the connector and be thick enough to fit tightly between the four metal hinges and touchpad cable.
Insert this piece of plastic into the connector. Make sure the touchpad still seated inside.
On the following picture you see the connector “fixed”. It doesn’t look the same as before but nevertheless the cable secured inside.
The piece of plastic applies pressure on the cable and it makes good connection with the contacts. The touchpad works again!
Now you can secure the connection with tape.
This simple trick fixed my touchpad.
Here’s another type of touch pad connector.
The locking tab is broken and also separated from the base.
Position the broken tab the way it was plugged before but do not push it into the connector yet.
Now insert the cable. In most cases it goes under the tab.
Push the cable all the way into the connector.
While holding the cable, push the tab into the connector.
Even though the locking tab is broken, it should secure the cable.
Again, apply some tape over the connection to secure it.
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