Transporting A Desktop Computer

Marik_Steele · October 2004

Anyone who's moved their computer to or from college or a LAN party far away will be able to answer this. Many more of you may be able to offer ideas too.

How do I transport a desktop tower (somewhere between mid- and mini-tower size) to a location that is 1 1/2 hours via plane away, then transport it back later? Only requirements are that it get no damage and not cost me an arm and a leg. Transport by air or ground are options, but I will be flying both ways. (So don't tell me to put it in the trunk of my nonexistent car or the greyhound bus seat next to me.)

[edit]It is sized small enough that it could be considered carry-on sized by airlines. Does anyone have experience with bringing their computer onboard with them?

[edit2]Does anyone know if FedEx, UPS, DHL, or the US Postal Service provides competitive pricing and insurance options for shipment?

eediot · October 2004

I don't have any experience, but I'd suggest putting it in a much larger box, and then filling the space completely with packing peanuts, etc. You can't trust the airlines, so be sure even if they throw it around like a frisbee that it'll be fine. And disassemble it, too, and put the pieces in peanut-packaging in their own boxes inside the big box for maximum protection.

Edit: This is of course, if you are going to put it as cargo or inside a suitcase etc.

DragonMech · October 2004

If it's just the tower, you could simply pack it in a box and pad it well (wrap it in a layer of plastic, some towels, then bubble wrap or foam) and have it as luggage. It shouldn't be too expensive if it's not too heavy.

[EDIT] If you do mail it, go UPS. I've never had a problem with them I had to send my laptop in for repair - but the US post broke the screen on one of it's trips. Just make sure you insure it.

Caboose · October 2004

disassimble it, take each component and put it in it's own box, padded w/ bubble wrap/antistatic bags. Put each of those boxes in a larger box, pad those boxes.

I've spent enough time watching how the baggage handerers handel baggage because my friends mom works for Foritier airlines and I get to see stuff like that <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' />

You'd be better off sending it Via Fed Ex, UPS or DHL though, it shouldn't cost too much and it's a helluvalot cheaper than replacing damaged components...

coil · October 2004

I agree with Caboose -- mail it. If you really want to take it on the plane, take it as a carry-on. My high school string group took a tour of Europe, and you better believe my violin came on the plane with me. One of the cellos, in its custom-built travel case clearly marked FRAGILE, was reduced to splinters by a careless baggage handler. Man that was awful.

Of course, if you do take it as a carry-on,
1) I'd call ahead and ask airport security what you need to do to bring it
2) expect to have to open it up to show security
3) keep it the hell away from anything magnetic or otherwise harmful (I'm not sure if x-rays are bad for computers, but I'd sure as hell be hesitant).

DragonMech · October 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (coil @ Oct 24 2004, 01:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> 3) keep it the hell away from anything magnetic or otherwise harmful (I'm not sure if x-rays are bad for computers, but I'd sure as hell be hesitant).  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
It <i>should</i> be okay, but ask them to hand inspect it anyway. Just to be sure. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' />

RPG_Jssmfulhud · October 2004

I agree that you shouldn't be putting it through the pain that is air baggage (except if you could take it with you on-board, which is doubtful.

The baggage personell (no offence to them) is very careless and your computer will be fairly bumped, scratched and whatnot after a few rides.

Thansal · October 2004

double check that it ACTUALY fits in the cary on specs (if it dosn't they will force you to put it in cargo).

I never ship my computers, they always travel with me (be it in the trunk of the car or the cary on for planes/greyhound). I can only do this b/c my computer that I bring on mastransit is my shuttle (tinny little bugger that fits in a backpack).

goodluck mate.

UnCritical · October 2004

If you are gonna take it on a plane (either as carry on or not) maybe think about packing the insides aswell. A good jolt on your vid card could have enough force to crack something <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' />

Just don't forget to take the packing out before you start it up <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />

2_of_Eight · October 2004

I transported a laptop on an airplane... put it in the hand-luggage. Couldn't put much else inside - weight restrictions.
And no, never, ever transport fragile components in the luggage section. No matter how many times or with how big letters you write "fragile", they'll throw the bag around.

TheFrostmourne · October 2004

I'm surprised no one mentioned this.
But your hard drive is the most fragile to shocks.
One good enough jolt and your data is toast.

I would dismount the heatsink as well a good shock could remove it from it's mount and dammage the rest of your computer.

When I went to LANs I tried to put the computer on the side where the mobo is in a resting position, if I was giving a lift to someone I'd leave it vertical.

Hibame · October 2004

I put my tower on as cargo once, put it in a mox srounded with bubble wrap, then in a larger box srounded in packing popcorn, then in a third box with lots of newspaper. needless to say it cost me around $10 to pack and it transported very safely

lolfighter · October 2004

"Throwers don't worry about ticking suitcases because modern bombs don't tick."
"Wait... throwers?"
"Baggage handlers. But if a suitcase is <i>vibrating</i>, they gotta call the police."
"My suitcase was <i>vibrating</i>?"
"In nine out of ten cases it's a shaver. But sometimes..." *looks around, covers mouthpiece of phone*...

Everything I need in life, I learned from Fight Club.
One might reason that they're called throwers because that's their preferred method of moving baggage around. I don't know about you, but I'd have a fit if anybody was THROWING my little precious around.

'ey... Who touched my post without being man enough to leave his signature?

BaconTheory · October 2004

I know that it has been mentioned, but dissasemble it and pack all of the parts seperately. Make sure you put lots of cushining in it. Also, I would buy the insurance if I were you. I have had no problems with UPS in th past, so I would reccomend them.

NEO_Phyte · October 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Caboose @ Oct 24 2004, 01:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I've spent enough time watching how the baggage handerers handel baggage  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
you mean tossers?

Carti · October 2004

Can't you take a train instead?

Scythe · October 2004

My grandma gave me this rather horrid shirt with a picture of a duck on the front. When I was 17...

Fortunatly it's made of thick fabric and fits over my computer *perfectly*. When I'm moving it I just wack its shirt on and stick it inna box. Safe as safe can be.

--Scythe--

EEK · October 2004

Take the hard disks OUT, and carry them with you. Everything else should survive intact. The components are fairly sturdy, and a mild shock shouldn't hurt them. Hard disks, however, can jump when they get impacted even a tiny bit and damage the disk. If you have a heavy heatsink, take that off too and put the CPU in a little plastic box and carry that too. I've seen sinks detach the plastic housing from the motherboard before.

0blique · October 2004

Yep, definitely be very careful with that hard drive. You may think everyone is exagerating, but they're not. I had a hard drive that was going to be sold, until it fell off a chair (about a foot or so high). After that, the only thing is was good for was the magnets and plates.

Transporting A Desktop Computer

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