Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Experiences with external usd back up drives?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 3:30 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: none yet
Posts: 13
Experiences with external usd back up drives?

Hi All,

I will be traveling to Frankfurt from LAX soon and will be taking my laptop with me with my METAL-encased external usb hard drive.

I am concerned with both the TSA and the germans thinking that it might be a bomb or something as it is about 2 lbs, sliver metal encased, and pretty big. (fyi, it's a mercury elite pro 250gb drive from other world computing)
picture here http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D2%26hl%3Den

so my question is whether any one has gone through security without any problems....in the end I am worried that they will take it away from me because they just don't know what it is. i dunno what do you think??

thanks!
lmu2009 is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 3:50 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
Programs: Holiday Inn Plat NW gold AA gold
Posts: 2,157
Originally Posted by lmu2009
Hi All,

I will be traveling to Frankfurt from LAX soon and will be taking my laptop with me with my METAL-encased external usb hard drive.

I am concerned with both the TSA and the germans thinking that it might be a bomb or something as it is about 2 lbs, sliver metal encased, and pretty big. (fyi, it's a mercury elite pro 250gb drive from other world computing)
picture here http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D2%26hl%3Den

so my question is whether any one has gone through security without any problems....in the end I am worried that they will take it away from me because they just don't know what it is. i dunno what do you think??

thanks!
That shouldn't be a problem. I travel with equipment like that and except for a couple of all electronics out of the bag (ORD) incidents haven't had any issues.
AngryMiller is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 5:41 am
  #3  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,448
I typically carry 2 laptops and 2 external HDDs with me and have never had a problem.
thegoderic is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 7:00 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 48
No problem bringing it

You should have zero problem traveling with it. However you might want to consider encrypting any PII or sensitive data on the drive otherwise borser officials (especially in the US) might do a fishing expedition on the drive or worse, make a cop of all the data on the drive.

Enjy your trip.
bosconet is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 7:36 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 127
I agree with the above. Worst case scenario they remove it from your bag, ask you what it is, and x-ray it again on its own. Take 15-20 minutes tops.

The real concern is them copying it. Which might sound like a very odd thing for them to do but I've read TONS of stories about people who have had their laptops, phones, and hard disks cloned.

Heck, I once got stopped at border crossing (US) and they decided to look though my digital camera's photos, as if it might contain evidence of ... something... Then starts asking me personal questions about my personal pictures ("Where was this taken?" "Who is this?" "What is going on here?").

PS - To beat the question it was at ATL from an EU Delta flight.
UnoriginalGuy is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 9:01 am
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Bryn Mawr PA & Wailea HI
Posts: 15,726
As the others have said I have never had a problem with multiple computers or multiple external HDD in the US or TATL.

MisterNice
MisterNice is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.