Today, the screen of my N900 died (bought it ~ 1,5 years ago @amazon) while in use.
It started to show strange colors, then flickered and had distored images.
I fear it might have been me getting wet in the rain (the problem occured afterwards, while i was already back home), though this happened quite often in the time i had the cellphone and never ever did something happen

I shut it down and turned it back on to see if it would help, but had no luck.
While the LED and the keyboard lit up, the screen stayed black, with its backlight still working (if i slide open the keyboard, the screen gets a little lighter, but still shows no image). I also tried booting with the Power-Cable plugged in (this was a suggestion made in some old thread about screen-problems) but it did nothing.

So, i need your help.

First, I would like to narrow down the problem.
Is only the screen broken or is the whole device a 550€ brick?

How can i check this?
I know i could buy a replacement-screen and just try if it will work, but these cost around 50€ and i don't have the necessary screwdrivers (torx and some other obscure one) and don't know anybody who does, so i would also have to buy these, upping the required amount of money even more. I am a student and thus, i am not exactly fond of burning ~70€ if there is a risk of just ending up with a useless replacement because the whole phone was dead.

So, how can i check which parts are faulty (the whole device or only the screen), without having to go the expensive try-and-error route of buying a spare screen?

I do have a lock-code active, so sadly, i can't boot directly into maemo just by powering the device up


Second: are there any other tips for me, for what i should do to get this thing working again?

For now i am using my old and trusty E61 to at least be reachable via Cellphone, but i would really like my N900 back working. Buying a new one isn't something i would like to do, because even used ones are quite expensive these days and with an Omnia 7 costing around 200€ new, i am not exactly inclined to pop 170€ for an used device without any warranty that might also have some of the quirks some N900 come with (i was quite lucky, never had problems with the device).

If u say water went into the phone u most likely have to change the slider and probably also the screen. The phone itself should be ok.

Connect N900 to TV via TV-out cable - You'll see if only screen is screwed. Although, judging on Your description, it *is* only screen problem.

by the way, you can disable PIN on Your sim card using other phone, then put it back on N900, type Your lock code blindly, and call Yourself. This is another, less efficient and more complicated method to check if it's working, when You don't have access to TV ATM.

guys even i have a problem.. my phone is in portrait mode even though the keypad is open.. i get on scrren keyboard while tyoing msges too.. pls help..

First of all, dont hijack other people threads. Second, use human language instead of sounding like "luser", pls. Third, click ctrl+alt(blue arrow)+shift + l at the same time. If that doesn't help, one of Your "apps" may have screwed accelerometer readings. Try restoring working backups via backupmenu. Cause obviously, you don't use backupmenu, try reflashing.

If that doesn't help, your accelerometer may be screwed in hardware level.