Hard Drive through security at the airport?

[SGT_OKINAWA]

Sorry, but I searched for this,
and there were pages and pages
of finds for 'Hard Drive' and 'moving',
so I just wanted to ask, and YES
I know I can call the airlines, but
thought some may have some advice
on the subject and something’s I may
have forgotten, or what not.

(Note: if I try to burn it to DVD-RW
it would be a whole lot of work and money.)


If I were to PCS to Japan, I'd like to
back up my Hard Drive (Pictures, files,
documents, slides, etc.) on an external
USB drive, i.e...

acomdata PureDrive PDHD750USE-72 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache USB 2.0 / eSATA External Hard Drive - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822216040)

What, if any or how hard will it be
to get this through security, a black
box with wires sticking out and weighs
a good amount, (750 GB HDD)...

We'd send the PC in the unaccompanied
shipment, and that would be the original,
but just in case I'd like to do a back up
and we'll - take it with me.

So far, I’ve had no real luck Google’ing it
but found this tip:

PC WORLD (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/126784/practical_tips_for_avoiding_tech_travel_hell.html)

There are more sites, but they don’t talk about
the security its about packing and luggage etc.,
but will I have a hard time taking this through
security?

Thanks in advance for any advice or links. :42a:
Peace! :)

[Oki alumni]

MY suggestion? Box it (the external HD) up, insure it to the hilt, and send it to yourself (You can use "General Delivery" as your mailing address (and mark it "Hold For Arrival Of Member") unless your sponsor has already gotten you a PSC Box number. Send it by Priority mail!! Express mail to military locations is NOT guaranteed the "3 day delivery" period as stated. Your box can be held up by customs, and THAT time doesn't count if you want to make a claim on "Express" time delivery. When wrapping the hard drive, use SEVERAL layers of bubble wrap, and make a nice "tight" package. It'll be worth the extra effort, and you'll be glad you did.

-Oki Alumni:old:

[DJ Tak]

Coming over here I had my external in my laptop backpack. There were no issues with it.

[Blues]

I don't forsee any problems as long as there aren't any drugs stored inside.

Just wrap up all of the cables and put the drive in an anti-static bag with some form of padding. One hard drive isnt enough to merit any sort of suspicion to cause a problem.

[zenzelle]

My husband took more electronics then I care to discuss as carryon luggage when we moved – let’s just say he was like a rolling Best Buy. He had 2 laptops, 2 external hard drives (one in a small case and one in a large case), mp3 player, psp, 2 digital cameras, cables, you name it. We traveled out of Amsterdam, through several stops in the US to visit family, and then on to Okinawa with all this stuff (this was only about 6 mo ago). And keep in mind I had my laptop as well (bringing our total to 3), ipod, and camera – oh and the cat too. We had way more than you would normally carry with you on a vacation or business trip because we were moving. Those things are expensive and you want to have control of them. I am sure we were security’s worst nightmare - we just went early and gave ourselves a lot of time.

He was never once asked about the external drives. They did ask him to turn on his small laptop somewhere (I can’t recall where). It is a Fujitsu lifebook and I guess because it is small it looks suspicious maybe??? My husband wasn’t about to ship those hard drives or mail them – he wanted to have control. I don’t blame you for wanting the same.

I wouldn’t worry about it at all. I am sure it is very common for security to see external hard drives these days. Just give yourself lots of time at security – and then if they want to examine it more – no big deal. But really if we made it half way around the world with all that crap I am sure you will be fine.

[zenzelle]

If I were to PCS to Japan, I'd like to
back up my Hard Drive (Pictures, files,
documents, slides, etc.) on an external
USB drive, i.e...

Oh and FYI - some people we knew in Germany had their computer stolen out of their HHG shipment. But luckily they had removed the hard drive and hand carried it with them so no major loss there. Might not be a bad idea to do this as well before shipping your computer.

[SGT_OKINAWA]

Thanks everyone, that is great news, I'd had a brain fart on the mailing it, that is a good idea.

Might mail the back up and carry the original :)

Again that was what I was looking for.

Peacex4!:D

[Ammoyankee]

When I cam back in June, I carried the laptop, a cell phone and external HD in my backpack. No issues whatsoever other than having to take the laptop out and run it through the xray separately at every checkpoint!

[CPOCPO]

I just arrived today from Germany and one of my carry-ons was all electronics and my personals. They looked at it a little longer in the X-ray but I didn't even need to open it up. Laptop, a couple externals HDs (one with external power source), camera all the wires, converters, usb flash rives, headphones, you name it.


i also mailed my other laptop to myself a couple of days ago MPS so I should see how that turns out on Monday or tuesday...

[dk]

i also mailed my other laptop to myself a couple of days ago MPS so I should see how that turns out on Monday or tuesday...
Hopefully it turns out better than my Gibson Les Paul's (guitar) hard case. Holy sheet. Thank gawd it was a hard case...

[CPOCPO]

Hopefully it turns out better than my Gibson Les Paul's (guitar) hard case. Holy sheet. Thank gawd it was a hard case...

wrapped in bubble wrap in a box with my two bedspreads and a pillow ;)

[Blues]

I'm taking my 1.5 Terabyte NAS drive in my luggage because I don't trust HHG with that much data. ;)