W700 Touch Screen not working (Hardware issue)

robertkjr3d
robertkjr3d Member Posts: 19

Tinkerer

My tablet seems fine, but I can't use the touchscreen. The first time it happened it was December 18th, and it happened for just one windows session. It seemed to be a fluke.  Then I thought it was drivers or something.  I actually did a 'System Restore' to the 15th.  When it came back up it was working.  But then it happened again... after waking up the next day.  Nothing to do with the updates.  Now it is not working at all.  

 

Then it dawned on me to check my Android build on the same machine.  I also have an Android-IA boot as well as Windows-8.1.  Sure enough Android also does not recognize the touch-screen.  In Windows 8.1, in the Control-Panel-System it says 'No pen or touch input is available for this display.  So this prompted me to stop fiddling with drivers and updates from the Acer site, Microsoft, or Intel.  It must be a Hardware issue.

 

I am not under any warranty:

So I popped the machine open.  I unplugged the battery for all-night.  In order to get to that I needed to unplug the screen.  I fiddled with some other things in there.  I was hoping that my fiddling would reset some static or something that might be causing the issue.

 

Anyway... What do I need to replace? Or what could be causing the problem... Or Am I just hosed..doom to just buy another device?  Just use it with bluetooth stuff or wired usb things?

Best Answer

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    Normally if there is a hardware issue with the touchscreen it's the cable between the digitizer and the motherboard. They will occasionally come loose, causing the digitizer to no longer be recognised. If you've checked that carefully, and the cable doesn't have any cracks or breaks then it'll be a toss up, either the digitizer or the motherboard. Likely it'd be cheaper to replace the digitizer to test, but you take the risk that it's the motherboard instead... Smiley Sad

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Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    Normally if there is a hardware issue with the touchscreen it's the cable between the digitizer and the motherboard. They will occasionally come loose, causing the digitizer to no longer be recognised. If you've checked that carefully, and the cable doesn't have any cracks or breaks then it'll be a toss up, either the digitizer or the motherboard. Likely it'd be cheaper to replace the digitizer to test, but you take the risk that it's the motherboard instead... Smiley Sad

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • robertkjr3d
    robertkjr3d Member Posts: 19

    Tinkerer

    Success! I did not detach this cable in my earlier fiddling.  It was loaded with tape.  I didn't consider this one.  I should have.  It also does not look healthy, almost as-if it has been heat-damaged.  

     

    I removed the tape.  Then I detached that cable from the board, and reattached it.  I tested after that... and wallah it was working.  Then I retaped: And I put a small piece of paper to give it a slight more seperation from the battery. (not sure it would do anything.)  I retested again before resealing the unit.  It worked.  Then after sealing the unit, I tested... still working.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    Great! It's  not always such an 'easy' fix, since the cable will break sometimes. In your case I'm betting it just wasn't fully seated and the slight amount of 'wiggling' that happens as the tablet is shifted around was enough to eventually work it loose,

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.