Can X-Ray machines [and metal detectors] damage computer hardware?

[TrevorRC]

Question as above...
Can x-ray machines and metal detectors damage computer hardware--video cards, sound cards, hard drives, RAM, power supplies?

I'm shipping my computer soon; and I'd prefer to take the expensive/delicate parts on the plane with me [and send the case UPS]... however, if the metal detector will fry the hard drive (I know the x-ray machine shouldn't), I don't want to bring it/them.
Same for the other parts.

I was considering posting this in General Hardware, but figured this might be a better area.

Logic tells me no, but I'd like to confirm that anyway.

Thanks.
--Trevor

 

[f95toli]

No, don't worry about it.

 

[TrevorRC]

Sweet. Thanks.
-T

 

[jagec]

CAN they? Yes.
Will they, on the settings you'll be encountering in your average shipping center/distribution point? No.

 

[ForumMaster]

well they can. it's a reason why air port security usually tells you to take out your computer from your luggage going into the x-ray/metal detector machine. the problem is only the hard drive as far as i know. everything else shouldn't be a problem.

 

[TitanDiddly]

My desktop has been through the TSA's Xray machines 4 times before, no issues.

 

[smopoim86]

With the whole x ray machine interfearence, i do computer work for a friend who is a dentist and there are computers about 3 feet from where the x ray machine is used. A couple of them have been there for 3 years with no prob.

(this is probably absolutely worthless)

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
well they can. it's a reason why air port security usually tells you to take out your computer from your luggage going into the x-ray/metal detector machine. the problem is only the hard drive as far as i know. everything else shouldn't be a problem.

Er when I've been through you put the laptop in a seperate bin and it goes through the xray by itself.

I'd be easy to conceal a handgun in a laptop, and still have the laptop functional.

I've been curious what an xray of the laptop battery looks like.

 

[frizzl]

yer many people take laptops onto planes, no probs!

perhaps the metal detector MIGHT do something to the hard drive, but they stick that all through the x-ray machine

if it was a problem, there would be signs alerting you of it, so dont worry 🙂