Bummer on the broken button assembly.
Before you put the buttons in, you should back up your Jornada and remove the flash card. I tried to keep the backup battery going the first time and just ended up draining it and having to replace it
(and it was at "good" level
).
The record button does indeed come off. In fact, it's darn near impossible to keep it on. The forward and reverse buttons also come off, just not as easily. I've put buttons back in two units and it is a bit of a pain. I couldn't get the bottom of the case to totally detached after removing all the screws either and was afraid to force things. So I just lifted up the corner where the buttons go. Here's what I did:
First, be aware there are two hidden screws. One is under the small sticker in the battery compartment. Peel the sticker back carefully
(but don't remove it completely
) and remove this screw. When you put the screw back, the sticker should stick back down nicely. The second hidden screw is underneath HP's big compliance label. I removed it from the first unit, but still couldn't get the bottom to detach. I recommend you just leave it alone as, with the screw in or out, the corner you need access to still opens enough to get the buttons in. After you've removed the screws, pop open the flash slot and leave it open.
I removed both the record button and the foward/rewind buttons from the lock button bar. Then put these two button assemblies in the case. To get them to seat down properly it is necessary to get the bottoms of the buttons underneath the main board and I had to lift up the main board just slightly. Key word SLIGHTLY. Once the buttons were in. I then slid the lock button bar back through them and closed everything up.
Because you have to hold the case open, lift the main board, and put the buttons in at the same time, you may want to get another pair of hands to assist you. I needed help the first time, but was able to do it solo the second time around.
Hope this helps.
