MacBook Screen question

[goliah]

Oldy, 13inch,White MacBook. System 10.6.8/2gib memory/2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo

Startup fine, always with chimes. But recently, when lifting the screen from sleep mode, screen refuses to come up completely. Can see faint outline of desktop but requires restart to get screen back to normal. It was suggested to me that the problem maybe a 'hinge switch' that's wearing. This appears confirmed as once pen and by moving screen slightly back and forth I can sometimes bring up the desktop. Any useful opinions before I take it in to be looked at professionally? Thanks in advance.

 

[DeltaMac]

The video cable runs through the hinge area. It is somewhat vulnerable to damage, but most likely is simply failing because of the movement of the hinge in normal use. The ribbon cable starts to break down. The long-term fix is to replace the cable.
Or, somewhat easier, is to remove the screen from the bottom case, remove the hinge cover from the display assembly. The backlight board runs through that area, and you can try reseating the connectors on that board.
The 2.16 GHz would be a 2007 Macbook. The last one that I took apart for similar problems (intermittent backlight when the display is moved), that clutch area cover started to crack. They get more fragile (less flexible) with age, so you do run some risk when removing those plastic covers. They might not go back neatly into place
And, the fix (reseating the connections) even if it works, may be only temporary, as the MacBook continues to be used. The old cables (and the plastic case) just won't take as much punishment now.