Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!mcnc!ecsvax!mjg
From: mjg@ecsvax.UUCP (Michael Gingell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Laptops and Airport Security
Message-ID: <4514@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: 28 Jan 88 17:35:52 GMT
References: <4426@garfield.UUCP> <3056@killer.UUCP>
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 18
Keywords: Laptop, X-rays
Summary: magnetic fields



There are at least two reasons why an X-Ray machine can be harmful
to your computer:

1) Very strong magnetic fields are used to generate X-rays. These
 could, in theory, damage the recordings on floppy disks.

2) The high energy of X-rays can damage semiconductors. Again, with
   enough intensity damage could occur to the contents of erasible
   programmable memories (EMPROMS or EEPROMS or EPLDS) or to the
   contents of battery backed up CMOS rams.

Has anyone had any real experience of an X-Ray machine causing harm
to a computer or floppy disk ?.  I think this is more mythical than
actual.

 ------  Mike Gingell  ...decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!mjg