touch screens and protectors

[OldManClayton]

COMPLETELY unrelated to thinkpads, but this place has the most helpful and knowledgeable people I know.

I have an old Toshiba e740 Pocket PC that someone gave me ages ago. I used the stuffings out of it writing journal entries, and it's sat on my desk charging for about a year or two now. I'd like to put some fun games on it again just to entertain myself a bit, but the screen is all scratched up and touch recognition is spotty. If I had thought, I would've bought a screen protector ages ago... but I didn't.

If I were to buy a screen protector now, would it help with the spotty touch? When it doesn't register, I can feel the difference in texture of the screen where it's scratched up. I'm wondering if placing the screen protector over it would get back the old usability or if it's pretty much doomed to be a pretty paperweight.

Thanks!

[NorrisCell]

It's not a paperweight yet, but a screen protector won't fix what you're describing. What you most likely need is a new digitizer, which is the part of the device that registers the touch input. You would benefit from a new front screen as well if it's as scratched as you say. Perhaps a non-working ebay unit would work to salvage parts from.

[OldManClayton]

Hmm... seems like quite a bit of trouble. Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think it's the digitizer. I can tell by the way the scratches catch the pen and the way it registers... It's hard to explain.

It probably is the digitizer. :\

Thanks for the reply! I'll post here if I decide to buy an extra unit or something...