One of my laptop's 256MB DRAM chips was corrupted after having it pass through the airport X-ray conveyor belt as well as a large secondary screening machine. Has anybody ever experienced this?

After passing security, I turned on my laptop yet only a black screen showed up along with seven short beeps. I called IBM technical support and they said that indicates that a DRAM chip is corrupted/damaged. After pulling out the faulty chip, my laptop started up OK (of course significantly slower without the extra RAM memory). The technician mentioned that large electromagnetic fields cause this problem, sometimes a solar flare has enough radiation to do this.

I'm curious whether the sensitivity of the screening machines can be controlled? I've seen some metal detectors that beep when you have a coin in your pocket, yet others don't make a sound when you have a watch, earrings, or rings. Perhaps the detectors were cranked up at their highest when my laptop went through, thus frying my DRAM chip.

Unfortunately, TSA denied my claim. They mention that "radiation from the X-ray machines located at the screening checkpoints does not have any effect on electronic media or personal electronic devices..." Well, I have the proof that it does.