Taking my Desktop PC on a plane (in the hold) yes or no?
Discussion
Hi All,
I've recently moved abroad for a while and initially left my PC at home, I'm thinking of bringing it back with me when I take a brief trip to the UK in May.
Firstly, is it OK to bring a PC with me, if it's just in my suitcase?
And if so, is there anything you'd do "prep-wise" to it in readiness for the flight?
Finally, am I likely to get extra interest from Customs for bringing it over?
Cheers all
Ash
I've recently moved abroad for a while and initially left my PC at home, I'm thinking of bringing it back with me when I take a brief trip to the UK in May.
Firstly, is it OK to bring a PC with me, if it's just in my suitcase?
And if so, is there anything you'd do "prep-wise" to it in readiness for the flight?
Finally, am I likely to get extra interest from Customs for bringing it over?
Cheers all
Ash
From a packing point of view I'd at the very least take the hard drives out and wrap them up - they don't like being bashed about. If it's a gaming PC with a hefty graphics card I'd be tempted to take that out too and wrap it, just in case. The case itself though, a bit of bubble wrap around it should suffice.
Make sure its well protected, the box/packaging the case came in would be ideal.
The most damage usually occurs when heatinks (CPU etc) come loose and smash around inside.
HDD's park the heads when powered down so should be ok unless it gets very violent make sure you have your data backed up.
The most damage usually occurs when heatinks (CPU etc) come loose and smash around inside.
HDD's park the heads when powered down so should be ok unless it gets very violent make sure you have your data backed up.
Should be fine. In the wake of 9/11 we had to go a do a rush job on some communications equipment for a very "special" customer in the States and basically had to bundle up our desktop PCs and a load of other kit to fly over there. Think we did as suggested, took the hard drives out and packaged them separately but the rest was just bubble wrapped and put in large solid Samsonite suitcases. It all made it there and back unscathed. No questions asked as to the contents despite the rather heightened security though we did get singled out for a full search (not internal ) when trying to leave the USA.
AshVX220 said:
OK cool,
thanks all, looks like it's possible then, will follow everyone's advice and strip the HDD and SSD out, plus the Graphics card etc.
Cheers, virtual beers all round ()
Is the PC case something special? I'm just wondering why it wouldn't be easier to strip out the internals and put them in your carry on luggage and buy a new case in the US to reassemble with?thanks all, looks like it's possible then, will follow everyone's advice and strip the HDD and SSD out, plus the Graphics card etc.
Cheers, virtual beers all round ()
"Anti-Static" bubble wrap around any components obviously
Mechanical HD's (not SSD's), RAM sticks, CPU Heatsink and Graphics card should all be removed and wrapped separately. I helped my mate do this during a 1 year move to Gibraltar and had no issues, other than his case being bloody massive!
Mechanical HD's (not SSD's), RAM sticks, CPU Heatsink and Graphics card should all be removed and wrapped separately. I helped my mate do this during a 1 year move to Gibraltar and had no issues, other than his case being bloody massive!
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