Opened up my (refurbished) Dell Latitude 7390 and the left click button isn’t working?

Troubleshooting Non-Responsiveness of the Left Click Button on a Refurbished Dell Latitude 7390

Introduction

Experiencing hardware issues can be frustrating, especially when it involves essential input devices like a mouse button. Recently, a user shared their experience regarding an unexpected malfunction of the left click button on their refurbished Dell Latitude 7390. In this article, we’ll explore potential causes for such issues, practical troubleshooting steps, and solutions to help you determine whether the problem can be resolved independently or if professional repair is necessary.

Background

The Dell Latitude 7390 is a robust business-class laptop known for its durability and performance. When acquired refurbished, some components may occasionally develop issues over time. In this case, the user noticed that after waking the device from sleep mode, the left-click button ceased to respond, although touchpad taps still registered as clicks.

Common Causes

Several factors could contribute to this type of hardware malfunction:

1. Hardware Wear or Damage: The physical button might have sustained internal damage or wear, especially considering the device’s age—approximately five years since purchase.

2. Software Glitches: Sometimes, driver issues or temporary glitches in the operating system can affect hardware behavior without actual physical damage.

3. Connectivity Issues: Loose or faulty internal connections between the button and the motherboard can cause non-responsiveness.

4. Residual Software Bugs: Windows updates or corrupted system files may also interfere with hardware functionality.

Troubleshooting Steps

Before considering professional repair, try the following steps to diagnose and potentially fix the issue:

1. Restart the Laptop: Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve temporary software glitches affecting hardware components.

2. Update Drivers and BIOS: Ensure your touchpad and chipset drivers are up to date. Visit Dell’s official support website, enter your service tag or model, and download the latest drivers and BIOS updates.

3. Check Device Settings:

4. Navigate to Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
5. Ensure the touchpad is enabled.

6. Verify that settings related to the primary button are correctly configured.

7. Test Hardware Functionality:

8. Use a diagnostics tool. Dell laptops often come with preinstalled diagnostics (Access by pressing F12 at startup and selecting Diagnostics).

9. Run the hardware test focusing on the touchpad buttons to identify any physical issues.

10. Inspect for Physical Damage:

11. If comfortable, carefully inspect the button area visually for any signs of