Chosen Solution
While replacing the logic board, I accidentally broke the locking tab of the keyboard adapter (beginner’s mistake…). I am wondering if there is any chance the keyboard would still work without the locking tab. At the moment, the keyboard appears not to work. However, I know that the keyboard cable is not particularly easy to put in (MacBook unibody keyboard ribbon cable won’t go in), so I am wondering if I still have a chance to make it work by inserting the cable properly (I have been failing to so so far). Anyone had a similar experience? Any workaround?
Are you sure you broke it? Or is it just not mounted? How about posting a picture of what you have Adding images to an existing question The latch presses the ribbon onto the contacts. So while you have the ribbon threaded into the connector its not making the needed electrical connections. You’ll need to get a junker logic board to steal the latch (without breaking it in the process). Threading the ribbon can be a bit daunting! I use a small strip of electricians tape which I fold one end to make a pull tab. Then I stick it on the base part of the cable so I can pull the ribbon into the slot. Update (01/27/2020) Good you still have it! Let’s look on how to put it back in! The trick is to bow the clip slightly! This will allow you to get it to snap back in. If you can thread a needle yo can do this. It doesn’t take much to bend it enough to slip in so don’t over do it and too much will either break it of jump like a frog off your desk! The grooved side is the bottom and the groves are on the inside surface. Place in one side and with your left pinky finger hold it in place, then place your tweezer tip about 1/3 underneath the clip to bow the bar as you press the other side down with your free fore finger, using your other fingers to guide the placement.
@bioalb sure looks broken to me. Time to get a new one and desolder the old one and replace it with a new one. You are looking for a FUJIKURA (DDK Electronics) FF14A-30C-R11DL-B-3H connector. It is readily available at places like this and many others.
