I use a needle inserter like this one to remove the fat finger problem:
http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-247-Need...dp/B000YQISB8/
Basically it holds the needle in an upright position (you drop the needle into the hole). A pair of long tweezers can help hold the needle in the correct orientation while you are searching for the hole. (Clamping tweezers work too.)
http://www.amazon.com/item4ever-TWE6...dp/B0012DNMXG/
Were you able to get the old needle out completely? If so, the hole should be there.
Edit: I don't know about your machine, but many take needles with a flat side in which case the flat side needs to be facing the back.