Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mephisto!mcnc!ecsvax.uncecs.edu!dukeac!strange
From: strange@dukeac.UUCP (Mike Scher)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: airport x-ray machines/laptops
Summary: It's not the falling, it's the landing.
Message-ID: <1751@dukeac.UUCP>
Date: 11 Feb 90 16:52:10 GMT
References: <CWILLIAM.90Jan26174944@brillig.umd.edu> <22818@usc.edu>
Reply-To: strange@dukeac.UUCP (Mike Scher)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Duke Universty
Lines: 27


   I use an old GRiDcase 3 and have never allowed the unit itself to be
x-rayed for fear of damaging not the internal electronics, but the EPROMs
that hold DOS and other software.  My floppy disks, however, have been x-rayed,
much to my horror on the occasion.  They remained errorless, which prompted
me to look into matters.  X-rays apparently will do nothing to mess up
electronics or magnetic fields in computer equipment/disks.  The magnetic
fields emitted by x-ray machines, METAL-DETECTORS, and the like, however,
may indeed damage sensitive electronics and are likely to affect the magnetic
fields on disks.
   Most airports, including LA and Newark, will allow hand inspection of
computers for both domestic and EEC flights.  They may want to x-ray your
computer carrying bag, so be sure to keep your disks outside, or to take them
out (visibly) when your machine is taken to be hand inspected.  I always hold
up the case and tell the person operating the x-ray machine (not the metal
detector) that I want the bag hand inspected.  They usually ask if it's a
computer.  All they EVER want to see is whether it boots successfully.


From doubts come questions;
from questions, answers;
from answers, enlightenment:
Doubt and be enlightened.
    -Mike Scher

USMail: P.O.Box 9896DS, Durham, NC 27706 | INTERNET: strange@dukeac.ac.duke.edu
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