Solved NIC probs after reassembling laptop

I removed the LAN card several times to clean it and it's slot, replacing the two antenna connectors which were all I saw.

There is some reason that the HP Wireless Asst. must be disabled before uninstalling to get wireless to work with Win7. I wonder if it does something to the LAN card since it couldn't adjust the OS on a clean reinstall.

The final two problems on the laptop are solved now and it's running better than any new Windows 7 PC, a month after it was rescued from the trash to do the processor pasting project.

The touchpad ribbon cable which lost its clamp during disassembly required taping the clamp in place wedged down by the keyboard using a plastic piece from a dental flosser stick. I used electrical tape to do this. I believe it's the pressure from the keypad above on the clamp enabled by the extra plastic piece on top that's causing touchpad ribbon contacts to finally engage.

There is no available steel mounting clamp for the HD which hardware was missing, so I taped it in place with heavy duty electrical tape as good as can be. I wanted to wedge something in to keep it from coming loose eventually, but was concerned it would block air from getting around the HD.

Well done, Greg. You have actually re-branded it.

Hope those electrical tape will last for long and not in a heated area.
Btw, the use of double sided tape (for car accessories) also recommended as it's a bit heat proof, but little thicker.