Is it ok to put laptops through the scanner at security? — Civil Aviation Forum

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Is it ok to put laptops through the scanner at security?

American757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 475 posts, RR: 2
Posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2167 times:

Ok I am bringing my laptop to detroit with me. Is it ok to put it through those scanner things at security and all. I dont need my laptop ghosted again, and want to make sure its safe. This is probably a dumb question but I just want to be safe. Thanks for any help.

9 replies: All unread, jump to last

HNLFlyboy From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 321 posts, RR: 2
Reply 1, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2142 times:

AA757,

I travel between the Islands here in Hawaii quite frequently, almost always with my laptop and nothing has happened to it. They usually do a secondary scan of it once it comes out of the main scanner. The only dumb question is the unasked one. It should be fine.

QantasA332 From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1500 posts, RR: 35
Reply 2, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2136 times:

Do you think TSA would really make people put their laptops through the scanner knowing that they (the laptops) would be destroyed? Actually, that answer is not as obvious as it seems, looking at it again... Big grin

Anyway, no, your laptop won't be harmed...I've put mine through many-a-time and it's running beautifully!

qantasA332

American757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 475 posts, RR: 2
Reply 3, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2121 times:

ok, I was just checking, cause I never really payed attention to the whole laptop process. I just got my comp back on thurs and dont really want to have it in the shop again.

Ryan h From Australia, joined Aug 2001, 1451 posts, RR: 1
Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2095 times:

On a recent trip to sydney I put mine through the x ray machine with no problems

South Australian Spotter

FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 14
Reply 5, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2069 times:

Your laptop will not be harmed. If you want to be extra careful, take your hard drive out of it, keep it in a static free bag, and ask the TSA to hand inspect it. The only danger with laptops in scanners is the hard drive and it should be safe through one while it is still in the computer. Out of the computer and it will be toast if sent through the scanner. At least that's what my laptop manual says.

Semper ubi sub ubi.

Usa4624 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 260 posts, RR: 2
Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2000 times:

My biggest concern is somebody will steal my laptop. It's quite obvious I have it because it's on a tote all by itself.

I have been on several trips where I have been separated from it while going through security and/or have been distracted by TSA so I could not keep an eye on it.

Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3089 posts, RR: 9
Reply 7, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1928 times:

I have traveled several times with my laptop. You will be required to take the laptop out of it's tote and put it though by itself (usually they put it in a plastic tub). I wouldn't recommend trying to take the hard drive out of the laptop, laptops are pretty tightly packed inside and are more difficult to work in than a desktop computer. From what I once read, the biggest danger to the hard drive in the x-ray machine is actually the motor that drives the belt. I haven't had any problems, but if you're really worried you might want to leave backups of important stuff at home. That's actually not a bad idea to do anyway...

David / MRY

go! is no Aloha. Mesa, go! home.

Ual-Fan From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 367 posts, RR: 0
Reply 8, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1897 times:

I was told once that the hard drive is actually surrounded by some sort of shielding to protect it. Mine has been through several hundred times and I'm using it right now. It always works fine.

Freshlove1 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 9, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1872 times:

The only thing you have to worry about is TSA throwing them around, I see it on a daily basis and I cant believe how they have absolutely no respect for peoples items. Yes I realize that they may need to look a bit closely at them, but don't drop them back down on the table when your done. I once had a friend have his computer checked by TSA and the girl dropped it back down on the table and he said to her "could you please be a little more careful with it" her response was "if there is something wrong with it and it doesn't work you can file a complaint by calling this number" and she gave him some official TSA complaint number. It worked but its just the point of them not caring.

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