I'm unable to get the ribbon back into the connector also. Is there a trick to it that someone can share?
You must understand that there is a tiny ribbon keeper (for lack of a better name) that prys up from the direction shown in the picture... If you didn't see it you probably got the ribbon out by pulling, instead of lifting the keeper tab. Look very closely and you will see this tab... lift it up as shown in the picture and insert the ribbon cable, then press the tab back down which locks the cable in place.