Among other things, I have to take a desktop computer - specifically a Dell Inspiron - on a trip.

Does anyone have experience knowing if it will fit in a standard-sized rollerboard? (The computer and the rollerboard aren't in the same city right now, need to decide if I need to take the rollerboard for it.) Advice for packing it other than lots of bubble wrap?

Unfortunately, I discarded the original box it came in, or I would check it.

If you put a "fragile" tag on a checked bag, will they actually not throw it around?

Sidebar, many years ago (close to 20) I checked a bag and for some reason they asked me what was in it and I said "Hardware" and they made me sign a damage release. The hammer, wrenches, and fasteners made it to the destination unharmed!

Get your rollaboard out and see if it will fit.

I'd be hesitant to check it unless it were in the original packing.

In any case, make sure it is well backed up to prevent data loss.

I took one when I moved from Sweden to Germany in a large rollaboard which was checked. It was surrounded by lots of textiles (clothes, towels etc.) and it was completely full so there was no way that the computer was going to move an inch inside of the suitcase. Worked fine, but make sure that all components are firmly anchored inside, my DVD unit had moved a bit because it was not screwed to the chassi.

Don't bring it at all and access it remotely?

There's no such thing as a standard roll-a-board. They run the gamut from tiny to very large. What counts are the measurements of your specific roll-a-board (remember to include handles, wheels and the like).

Also remember that if you check it, it won't be covered by any carrier's reimbursement policy and by extension, most travel insurance policies.

I would ship it if it was domestic, this way it could be insured. Depending on the model many are small enough to be carry on, if yours is I would do that if possible.

Inspirons come in all sizes so more information is needed

Could your back the data up to an external hard drive and hook that up to a computer at your destination?

There you go, making sense again. Stop it!

Let's seek the advice of the readers of the Travel Technology forum. I'll move this there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Also there's no such thing as a standard sized desktop tower either, so the specific combination of computer and carry-on is going to matter.

I have in fact transported desktop mini-towers about 2-3 times, both in carry-on and tightly packed in check luggage. All have been fine, though one got a dent in the side of the case. I do feel anything bigger than a small mini-tower is going to be very tight to fit in a typical carry-on. I have also transported 20" LCD monitors in my carry-on twice as well.

As long as it fits, there's no real issue, though the security line does give some funny looks and may give these things an extra manual look-over.

The OP edited.

since I might do the same thing , if you are packing a tower what would you do to make it not get damaged ?
take out Hard drive , memory or anything else ?
put bubble pack inside ?

any other ideas ?

It depends on the method.

If I was carrying it on, I would probably not do anything other than back up the drive first.

If I was not carrying it on and it was going to be shipped, I would back up the drive first. I would probably pack the inside of the case in the big bubble warp just to keep things from moving around, and if something did work loose it would not be bouncing around inside. Depending on the machine, if it has a optical drive that has a tray that opens for example, I would put some painters tape over that to keep it closed (think of all those irritating bits of tape you had to pull off when you got it), and I would leave a disk in the drive. If the drives are hot swap easily pulled out I would make sure those are secure too.

I would double box it, preferably in a computer shipping box, pack the tower, put that in a box, and then put that box into another box.

Either the computer or the inside box would go inside a plastic bag to prevent water damage should it be out in the pouring rain being put into the plane.

Name and address on the case, in the case, and on each box.

If I was checking it with the airline, I would say good bye to it, because I feel my chances of every seeing it again would be very slim.

If I was shipping it I would insure it for it's full value.

Due to an odd set of circumstances I once checked an old (late 90s) Mac desktop on the LGA-DCA shuttle in the original packing and it came through just fine.