does custom/immigration at NAIA and LAX check laptop's software?

[LaneAndDaisy 0]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

Edited December 15, 2009 by LaneAndDaisy

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Most places (exception being Canada*) if you're headed on through-flight to US, it's a scot-free pass through customs.

So, likely the pirated s/w will sail-through Manila; can't say about LAX, but I've rarely seen customs actually CHECK whether s/w is valid copy.

[tallcoolone 102]

Just tell them it's personal.

Now I have heard that if you are taking a laptop out of the USA they may check it for "Child Pornorgaphy", which I know you don't have on it.

Bring it on back to the USA, don't worry too much about the piracy deal...

[SuperDuper! 230]

OK, well no one knows what could happen, but you don't fit the profile of someone suspicious enough to analyze your laptop. First and foremost, police are looking for sex tourists who take naughty pics and videos. You are the last type of person they want to take time to shake down with a fine tooth comb. Just be sure you dont have questionable items or food in your carry on or suitcase. Be aware, that a laptop is treated just like a suitcase when it comes to legal ability to break through passcodes and get into a laptop.

No one here can tell you, "It will be alright; they never care about a laptop." Maybe there will be a spy coming in on the same plane that looks like you, and they will send you to secondary inspection. Maybe you will look very sick and nervous and thus raise suspicions.

Decide for yourself how illegal you feel that your laptop is. Maybe you need to wipe the disk clean, and thus your conscience. But the reality is, it is rare for a laptop to be inspected more than just Xray'ing it at security checkpoints.

I am a middle aged white male, who traveled alone x4 to the Phils, and never once was my laptop a concern going thru customs.

It's up to you what you will do.

Happy Travels and Congrats to both of us.

[Jo-bel 0]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

Hi, I brought my Mini laptop they just asked if I have electronics at NAIA... I said yes... laptop, digicam, etc... they just asked me. My OS is pirated too, same as my cousins who brought their laptop in Singapore, Canada and London.

In Japan (stop over), those who have laptop in their hand carry should placed it in the x-ray machine.

But not good thing happened to my Mini laptop was the system error and battery problem a few days after I arrived. So my husband gave me a laptop..., I do not know the reason of that error.

Edited December 15, 2009 by Jobel

[Ban Hammer 13,135]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

Edited December 15, 2009 by charles!

[Angel and Gendy 1]

I had my bags inspected and was just told not to buy the 45p 1in28 dvd's anymore..... and I got to keep em....

[Pinay Wife 47]

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

The best advice!

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Why don't you just put it in your checked baggage?

I'm not sure how often they check that stuff, but with everything going through, I doubt they would.

I'm unsure if the xrays in checked baggage sections would damage a laptop though)

[SuperDuper! 230]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

Not only that, if your OS is pirated MSFT, then it will not upgrade with safety patches, and thus open to virus and trojan horse attacks. Just wipe the hard drive securely. No need to take it out if it is working fine.

[Ban Hammer 13,135]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

Not only that, if your OS is pirated MSFT, then it will not upgrade with safety patches, and thus open to virus and trojan horse attacks. Just wipe the hard drive securely. No need to take it out if it is working fine.

wiping it after backing up all the data is a good option too.

Edited December 15, 2009 by charles!

[SuperDuper! 230]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

Not only that, if your OS is pirated MSFT, then it will not upgrade with safety patches, and thus open to virus and trojan horse attacks. Just wipe the hard drive securely. No need to take it out if it is working fine.

wiping it after backing up all the data is a good option too.

And now that I think on it, It is different for an American coming thru customs with a laptop. As opposed to someone coming from a SE Asian, China, Russia or any other locations known for high rates of Piracy. The immigrant might get more scrutiny. All it takes is one ICE Hawk to ask you at POE, "Is there any pirated software in your computer?" So under these circumstances, it is NOT a good idea or risk. Get hubby to agree to get you a new computer perhaps.

[LaneAndDaisy 0]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

Not only that, if your OS is pirated MSFT, then it will not upgrade with safety patches, and thus open to virus and trojan horse attacks. Just wipe the hard drive securely. No need to take it out if it is working fine.

wiping it after backing up all the data is a good option too.

And now that I think on it, It is different for an American coming thru customs with a laptop. As opposed to someone coming from a SE Asian, China, Russia or any other locations known for high rates of Piracy. The immigrant might get more scrutiny. All it takes is one ICE Hawk to ask you at POE, "Is there any pirated software in your computer?" So under these circumstances, it is NOT a good idea or risk. Get hubby to agree to get you a new computer perhaps.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES..SO HELPFUL..now its a serious talk between me and fiance about taking the laptop or not...but how about REFORMATTING IT??or LIKE DELETING EVERYTHING...and just get a licensed OS in US???is that possible too?

[Jo-bel 0]

hi everyone..here i am again..3 more days and im leaving..

Honestly I can't decide whether to take the laptop with me or not....Its was a gift with sentimental value, bought brand new in Singapore . But after a year, the trial version of the OS (Windows Vista) got expired..Now what it has inside are all pirated programs/software......I know, I know.. trying to settle for less isnt the right thing to do...but thats how its mostly work here in the PI..the cheaper the better...

Questions:

1.) Do u think the Customs at NAIA (manila) and LAX will try to booth the unit and check if software is orginal or fake?

2.) Do you think they will confiscate the unit and then send me back home to my province? I heard some stories about other people being caught with pirated dvd's/cd's in their possession at the NAIA and then was told to go home and cancelled his flight.

I would wish though to take it with me but if this will cause a denial to enter the US, then i would rather not have it...another option is to have it shipped via fedex, but no doubt it will cost me hundreds or thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$.

Please advise...How did u manage to take with u ur laptop to the States???

Thanks and God bless

daisy

my thoughts are this - do you really want to take the chance of being caught up in a piracy charge at the poe as you use your k-1 visa? i don't believe that would bode well for your aos......

i'd suggest back up all of your data (not programs) onto dvd or cd, make several copies of the data just in case. then leave the hard drive overseas. bring the laptop minus the hard drive, get a new hard drive in the usa, along with a legal operating system.

Not only that, if your OS is pirated MSFT, then it will not upgrade with safety patches, and thus open to virus and trojan horse attacks. Just wipe the hard drive securely. No need to take it out if it is working fine.

wiping it after backing up all the data is a good option too.

And now that I think on it, It is different for an American coming thru customs with a laptop. As opposed to someone coming from a SE Asian, China, Russia or any other locations known for high rates of Piracy. The immigrant might get more scrutiny. All it takes is one ICE Hawk to ask you at POE, "Is there any pirated software in your computer?" So under these circumstances, it is NOT a good idea or risk. Get hubby to agree to get you a new computer perhaps.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES..SO HELPFUL..now its a serious talk between me and fiance about taking the laptop or not...but how about REFORMATTING IT??or LIKE DELETING EVERYTHING...and just get a licensed OS in US???is that possible too?

You can get a license OS in US, I know that your laptop has sentimental value....

The cost of the laptop here is depends upon the brand, memory, etc.... If you will buy new OS like Window 7, more or less $150 and installing is another payment (not sure) if you can compute it, almost the same as a cheapest brand new laptop here.

Edited December 15, 2009 by Jobel

[abbynorm2 0]

hi everyone

1.) Do u think the Customs .....

daisy

If it makes you uncomfortable to bring it, then pull the hard drive out and ship that by fedex while hauling the rest of the PC with you. there is no software on a computer that has no hard drive other than the BIOS. Or toss the Drive and get a new one with legal software when you arrive here.