Moving a computer across the Atlantic

[RosaMystica7 0]

My fiance built his computer himself and is rather attached to it. He put in something so he could install an American plug, and is intent on finding a way to get it from France to the States. Not the monitor - that he's leaving behind and my parents have a spare one that they're giving us. It's just the tower.

What I'm wondering is... how the heck do we do that?? Shipping would be the best way, I guess, but just one whack and something would get broken. Bringing it with him... well... same thing with it going into cargo, one smack and something's broken. But I doubt they'd let him bring it as a carry on, it's a freaking computer, it'd probably look like some sort of mega-bomb. Anyone have ideas? Would it be cheaper, and easier, for us to just buy a new computer? Has anyone brought a computer with them to the States?

[rebeccajo 14]

Wes took apart the computer he had built himself and packed all the drives, etc. into his carryon.

Yes it was inspected a couple of times on our crossing but it's not an uncommon thing for CBP officials to see in luggage.

He then re-installed everything into a new case once we got home. Runs like a top.

[Otto 83]

First - am not sure why he'd truly want to..but up to him.

You could ship it - pack it really well, or have one of those shipping places do it for you - in a Double Box

Many shippers sell PC shipping boxes to protect the contents. FedEx/UPS do - even if you don't use them, you can buy the box - I think DHL would too - which is who I'd suggest you use. Whatever you do, don't use some vegetable box filled with popcorn/bubble wrap if you really want it to work once it's here (not saying it wouldn't, but on whack, remember?)

Another way, should you decide to pack it yourself is to remove the 'cards' and 'drives' and pack (bubble wrap) them in the suitcases - even the motherboard is possible - can buy a new case here. But still - shipping an empty case is easy and a 'drop' wouldn't mean a total loss.

*if you're lucky - can find someone with an old Dell box (or something) that was used for shipping and 'borrow' it.

Edited March 11, 2007 by Karin und Otto

[meauxna 15]

We did what Wes did.

I carted that dumb HD back and forth more than once, as a matter of fact.

[Mags 112]

I brought my lap top. I was unable to bring it as carry-on however so I packed it in my normal checked baggage. It came through unscathed, no breakages or dents etc etc

[Dan J 277]

Well, if your going to ship the entire unit via UPS/FedEx or another carrier, make sure everything inside the box is secure, and its packed very well. I dont think I would take something like that on a flight.

Another options is to take the hard drives and whatever components you want to keep, pack them into anti-static bags and bring them with you to the US. Data on hard drives will be fine going through x-ray machines.

[midicat 0]

I wouldn't recommend bringing it over on the flight. We asked the airline about it, and they said you could, but they wouldn't insure it if it was broken on the flight. My fiance has also said he was going to take out the parts (video card, ram, Harddrives etc) and bring those and buy a new case here. You can get a case and power supply for under $100. Much cheaper than buying a whole new computer

[GaryC 7]

Luz has the same problem. The fact is the shipping cost would far outweigh the cost of replacing the computer. I got Luz an external 100gig HD for her to put all her pics, songs and movies on. When I was there the last time I removed all the expensive cards and packed them into my bag. When she gets here all her stuff will get transfered into my computer and the expensive cards will be installed into this computer.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Wes took apart the computer he had built himself and packed all the drives, etc. into his carryon.

Yes it was inspected a couple of times on our crossing but it's not an uncommon thing for CBP officials to see in luggage.

He then re-installed everything into a new case once we got home. Runs like a top.

Good tip. A new case is cheap. Pack the mother board and all peripherals in his carry on. I built my own gaming rig and want to keep it.

[MPGGPM 0]

Good tip. A new case is cheap. Pack the mother board and all peripherals in his carry on. I built my own gaming rig and want to keep it.

That's what I'd do as well if I was intent on bringing it with me overseas. You can uninstall and take out good stuff....video card...hard drive...memory...motherboard...etc......if they are really high end parts. Then pack each of them in that "bubble rap" that they are normally sold in, if you still have some lying around. (If not, find something else similar to wrap them in).

Things like the case....power supply......I wouldn't even bother bringing.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Good ideas. I'll show my fiance this when he gets home today. After I book the ticket he'll be calling the airline to ask them about the computer parts in his carry on, too, just to be safe. If we buy the ticket I'm looking at it'll be American Airlines. I'm hoping he'll be able to turn up a cheaper ticket though.

Thanks!

[fozzie 41]

Make a little boat with a sail and give it a push towards the USA. Thats what i did. It was a bit damp but it arrives in about 6-8 weeks.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

we brought nessa's hd. she had a 1.2 ghz pentium and we figured it would be easier to just hook up her hd as a slave to one of the computers i have.

[rebeccajo 14]

Good ideas. I'll show my fiance this when he gets home today. After I book the ticket he'll be calling the airline to ask them about the computer parts in his carry on, too, just to be safe. If we buy the ticket I'm looking at it'll be American Airlines. I'm hoping he'll be able to turn up a cheaper ticket though.

Thanks!

We flew home on American. I never even asked about the PC bits in the carry-on. It wasn't an issue with them.

There's no way I would put my PC in the cargo hold of a plane. No matter how well it was packed.

[CarolineM 0]

we did what gary did...stew got a really nice hard drive and loaded ALL his stuff on it...it has worked well so far