Originally Posted by tesla00
Thanks for all of your comments. I've passed through that airport (PIT) with the same laptop at least once every three months since the problem occurred and nothing has happened. This occurred in December 2002 when there the security level was at Orange due to some people that the FBI was searching for, I had a hunch that if the detectors were put on their most sensitive setting perhaps this corrupted the DRAM chip.
Unfortunately I can't pin it down to TSA since I was past security and flying in the air when I discovered the problem. As 'flymeaway' mentioned, at high altitudes there is a higher dose of EMF radiation.
One thing that irked me was the laptop was not under my constant survellience when this incident occurred. Back in Dec. 2002, TSA had one guy frisking me with the wand, while another guy took my laptop away to get scanned. During those 30 seconds or so, I don't know whether the laptop was dropped. Learning from their mistakes, TSA now makes sure your valuables are under your constant survellience.
I think what I will do from now on, even though its a hassle, is to
1) Boot up the laptop before passing through security.
2) Show the laptop to a TSA employee, proving that it works.
3) Shutdown the laptop
4) Pass through security
5) Boot up the laptop again to make sure it works.
<Sigh> I get frustrated whenever such a simple procedure isn't followed. First of all, screeners are never supposed to touch, search or handle your property outside of your view without your consent. Yeah, I know. I'm going to be bombarded with posts that it happens all the time, and this is something that I deal with at my own airport as well. Although, I'm happy to report that it's less frequent with MY screeners on my shift because they know my expectations. Nonetheless, you have the right to request that your property not be taken out of your view. In situations when screeners are hand wanding you and searching your property simultaneously, you also have the right to request that they not touch your property until the hand wanding is completed so that you can concentrate on watching them search your property. There's a cost that comes with this and that is time. It will take more time to finish screening you, but as long as you understand that, then it shouldn't really be an issue.
Second of all, there's nothing wrong with the method you describe. You do have the right to request that a lead screener or supervisor observe you boot up your laptop before and after x-ray screening. Don't be surprised if they're reluctant or less than enthusiastic about it, but it is your right and there isn't anything wrong with it. Again, it is going to take up more time, but if it will leave you with the satisfaction you desire, then that's part of the customer service TSA promises its passengers.
Sometimes, I think TSA screeners get caught up with the notion of having to expedite people through the checkpoint. Not saying that they sacrifice thoroughness; and I would hope no checkpoint ever does that. However, some of the "short cuts" are simultaneous screening such as what I described above (hand-wanding a passenger AND searching his/her property at the same time). As long as the passenger is comfortable with that, then I see no problem with it; however, if a passenger is not okay with it, then TSA screeners must respect those wishes. Another "pet peeve" of mine that I'm constantly on top of is when the x-ray operator pulls a tray out of the tunnel to physically examine its contents. There may be a legitimate reason for it such as a suspect image; however, they are not supposed to do that. What I tell my screeners is that if there's a suspicious item or something that resembles a suspicious item (such as a pocket knife attached to a key ring), then it's permitted to LOOK at the tray when it comes out of the tunnel WITHOUT touching it. IF it can be cleared visually, then let it go. IF it can only be cleared by moving the objects around or perhaps removing a sweater that is on top of whatever the item is or anything else that requires touching/handling the tray, then call a bag check so that it can be handled/touched in front of the owner. My screeners complain that this is time-consuming and my comeback to them is, "it may be a cheap Timex watch in there, but as soon as you handle the tray out of the passenger's view, the claim is going to be that it was a Rolex. Are you willing to accept that liability?"