So, my laptop is a Dell model # pp39l. The little red wire connecting the power button to the battery is severed. Past warranty, tech support tells me it's a few weeks and a few hundred dollars (yuck) for what seems like a benign problem. I am more of a software than hardware guy; nonetheless, being quite fond of my programming companion, of a frugal disposition, and curious, I'd like to fix it myself.
My naive first impression is that the power button is an "ignition" that sends a spark somewhere (battery, monitor, mainframe), which then triggers boot. Obviously, because of functionality like "sleep", it also sends other signals. Despite my dissection and attempts, though, I don't know if it's possible to simply jumpstart my computer by sending a current (what amperage, I know not) through the severed wire. If not, then is there some more sophisticated hack I can do?
Thank you