transporting a hard drive overseas

[matas]

Going to Europe for a while and I plan to transport a hard drive. There is no special procedures for it is there?

 

[Barfo]

Not as far as I know, but if the TSA decides to search it you can kiss it goodbye.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I used to take hard drives in and out of the US all the time, although that was a few years ago. No issues at all.

 

[Ksyder]

assuming you are talking about protecting the drive physically, I'd say put it in an antistatic bag and pad it if you can. The heads are parked and locked so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[matas]

The files on it are really not that important, I just need a working hdd for my pc over there.

 

[vshah]

i've taken external hdds in carryon before, no problem. i would get an enclosure for it...looks more "normal"

 

[Fox5]

I would think xrays would be bad for hard drives, but I suppose enough laptops go through airports without suffering any problems... right?

 

[thescreensavers]

You need to put your hard drive in D3 Lock mode before you can travel with it.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: vshah
i've taken external hdds in carryon before, no problem. i would get an enclosure for it...looks more "normal"

This. Brought an external HD overseas in a carry-on in 2006, brought it back in 2007, no issues either way.

 

[Paperdoc]

Originally posted by: Fox5
I would think xrays would be bad for hard drives, but I suppose enough laptops go through airports without suffering any problems... right?

X-rays should not be any trouble for hard drives. X-rays do not alter the magnetic state of the recording medium.

 

[tokie]

Originally posted by: Paperdoc

Originally posted by: Fox5
I would think xrays would be bad for hard drives, but I suppose enough laptops go through airports without suffering any problems... right?

X-rays should not be any trouble for hard drives. X-rays do not alter the magnetic state of the recording medium.

I've had trouble with X-rays and magnetic Hotel keycards before. It would make them lose the charge and I would have to go to the Front Desk and get them to redone..