Dell Inspiron 4000 has section of Keys dead.

I changed a fan heatsink assm on this Inspiron 4000 then when testing the "2,w,s,x" keys don't work. I replaced the keyboard with no help. It seems I must have pinched a data line somewhere because all these keys are in a straight line but I can't find anything visually. I checked where the keyboard connects and there is nothing to indicate a problem. I even cleaned and adjusted each small pin in the connector to verify contact but nothing. Any ideas???

the keyboards that I have seen are attached by a tiny ribbon cable, has it been damaged or scratched?