Mark, The 2 connectors, lcd and digitizer, are finicky on mine. I had to take tablet apart a couple times to "reconnect" them. I used masking tape to better hold them securely. A loose ribbon cable connector means no digitizer operation. A loose fine wire connector in the center of tablet means no lcd operation. Good Luck

Mark, I found that the digi and the lcd work independent of one another. There is nothing to worry about the"buffer" between the two. In my case, the first digi I got the ribbon/glass connection point started peeling up and I got intermittant operation. (Luckily I didn't stick everything together yet). With my second digi I got, intermittant operation again. Eventually found that the connector, both digi and lcd were finicky. I used the sticky and the existing foam rubber to help keep these connectors in place. Everything good now.

No answer for you but just went through the same thing. Never any problem with touch screen, then dropped and cracked screen. Didn't work. Bought new digitizer and just installed without sticky tape for testing purposes. Getting the same result. What else could have broke when I initially dropped it so only touchscreen would not work? Used the keyboard with it so I know everything else works.