packaging pc for transport

[Skeleton Man]

Hi,

I'm planning a move from Australia to Canada which is like a 26 hour flight and
at least 3 different planes.. I'm taking my PC with me (minus the monitor -
gonna buy LCD over there), and just wondering the best approach to carrying
hdds, backups, etc..

I was thinking remove all the drives from the case as they're screwless and only
clip in.. then putting the hard drives (80GB WD and 200GB WD) in static bags
inside plastic cases that they normally come in.. and wrapping the optical
drives (Pioneer DVD-RW and Aopen CD-RW) in bubble wrap (after backup to DVD-R of
course)

Next I plan on putting all the drives in my suitcase, and the DVD backups in my
carry on luggage.. what I'm worried about is shock to the drives from all the
movement during handling and in-flight, and also the effects of x-ray scanners
on hard drives.. (apparently the biggest risk is from the magnets in the motors
driving the conveyor)

The case with mainboard and cpu (s478 celeron w/ retail hsf, no add-in cards)
will be placed back in it's original cardboard box complete with styrafoam
blocks.. I was thinking it would be advisable to remove the cpu and heatsink,
however I used the thermal pad that came with it and I don't fancy scraping muck
off and re-applying..

Appologies for the long post.. any suggestions/comments are welcomed..

Regards,
Chris

 

[Crimson Liar]

Hi,

I'm planning a move from Australia to Canada which is like a 26 hour
flight and
at least 3 different planes.. I'm taking my PC with me (minus the
monitor -
gonna buy LCD over there), and just wondering the best approach to
carrying
hdds, backups, etc..

I was thinking remove all the drives from the case as they're screwless
and only
clip in.. then putting the hard drives (80GB WD and 200GB WD) in static
bags
inside plastic cases that they normally come in.. and wrapping the
optical
drives (Pioneer DVD-RW and Aopen CD-RW) in bubble wrap (after backup to
DVD-R of
course)

Next I plan on putting all the drives in my suitcase, and the DVD backups
in my
carry on luggage.. what I'm worried about is shock to the drives from all
the
movement during handling and in-flight, and also the effects of x-ray
scanners
on hard drives.. (apparently the biggest risk is from the magnets in the
motors
driving the conveyor)

The case with mainboard and cpu (s478 celeron w/ retail hsf, no add-in
cards)
will be placed back in it's original cardboard box complete with styrafoam
blocks.. I was thinking it would be advisable to remove the cpu and
heatsink,
however I used the thermal pad that came with it and I don't fancy
scraping muck
off and re-applying..

Appologies for the long post.. any suggestions/comments are welcomed..

Regards,
Chris

You pretty much have it covered, but the CPU heatsink has to come off
(though the CPU itself should be secure enough in place).

Crimson Liat

 

[Ralph Mowery]

Hi,

I'm planning a move from Australia to Canada which is like a 26 hour flight and
at least 3 different planes.. I'm taking my PC with me (minus the monitor -
gonna buy LCD over there), and just wondering the best approach to carrying
hdds, backups, etc..

I was thinking remove all the drives from the case as they're screwless and only
clip in.. then putting the hard drives (80GB WD and 200GB WD) in static bags
inside plastic cases that they normally come in.. and wrapping the optical
drives (Pioneer DVD-RW and Aopen CD-RW) in bubble wrap (after backup to DVD-R of
course)

Next I plan on putting all the drives in my suitcase, and the DVD backups in my
carry on luggage.. what I'm worried about is shock to the drives from all the
movement during handling and in-flight, and also the effects of x-ray scanners
on hard drives.. (apparently the biggest risk is from the magnets in the motors
driving the conveyor)

The case with mainboard and cpu (s478 celeron w/ retail hsf, no add-in cards)
will be placed back in it's original cardboard box complete with styrafoam
blocks.. I was thinking it would be advisable to remove the cpu and heatsink,
however I used the thermal pad that came with it and I don't fancy scraping muck
off and re-applying..

If you have the origional shipping box that should be good enough by its
self. For extra protection put the computer in its origional box and then
find a box that is about 3 inches larger all the way around and put the
origional box in the larger box that is filled with some bubble wrap or the
plastic peanuts.
Computers ship every day with no more than this.

Do make sure you back up your data and if possiable take the disc with you
as carry on baggage. The companies do sometime loose bagage.

 

[Noozer]

Hi,

I'm planning a move from Australia to Canada which is like a 26 hour flight and
at least 3 different planes.. I'm taking my PC with me (minus the monitor -
gonna buy LCD over there), and just wondering the best approach to carrying
hdds, backups, etc..

Leave EVERYTHING mounted in the case. The only item you should remove from
the PC is the CPU heatsink, depending on size/weight/mounting. Your Celeron
with Intel heatsink should be OK.

The PC should be packed in the box that the case came in. If you can find a
box slightly larger (1" each side), wrap the original box in sponge foam and
place it into the second box to absorb shock if it's dropped, etc.