Dell Inspiron 1721 - No Power- No Lights

Power On Signal Line

I got this Dell Inspiron 1721 in and it has no lights, no charge light, no nothing.  So I start investigating and find out that it's slide in keyboard has contacts/traces missing.  This model power button is on the keyboard, so without the keyboard functioning, it cannot come on. Now I have to devise a way to get it to turn on before ordering another keyboard.

Keyboard/Touchpad
 Connector Location

Following the voltages- I keep in mind that most modern laptops have a mosfet/switch or power circuit that requires the Power ON voltage to be dropped to 0v.  So I take the top cover off to be able to have the keyboard in, and access to the back connector under the wrist rest to find the power into the keyboard.






After shorting the Power-In signal line from the connector to the wire harness for the keyboard and touchpad. It is not identified in any way as other laptops such as HP/Compaq

Unit Powers Up

indicators.  [Zoom in to see Pin 6]  After a number of test
I find that the keyboard has poor contact between layers of
plastic, and appears to have oxidized to the point where the
resistance does not drop enough to completely close the power on ciruit, so the signal line never drops to 0v. And the laptop never comes on.

 This solves half of the problem. Now to find a way to correct the contact problem.

Customer gives up - Not a completed repair. No investigation into whether the KBC (keyboard controller)should be replaced.

Dell diagnostics reports No Keyboard attached, though it let me use the F1 key to continue, as well as the other keys to continue various other tests.  Also reports Power Button not detected.