External Harddrive through security?

TaterSalad · February 7th, 2007, 23:04

I'll be dealing with the wonderful people that constitute the TSA at CLT tomorrow, and I'm wondering about taking an external hard drive in my carry-on. I know they have you turn laptops, portable dvd players, etc on..........but there's really no way I can turn the HDD on for them, is this going to be a problem?

gredenko · February 7th, 2007, 23:09

When going thru Thousands Standing Around, I've never had a problem with my external HD. Once, they unscrewed the face, but it was detachable so it wasn't a big deal. Just try to stay near it so they don't do anything crazy.

My external HD led to a near strip-search in Tel Aviv. Unless you're going there, no worries.

BobDDuck · February 7th, 2007, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaterSalad

I know they have you turn laptops, portable dvd players, etc on..........

I haven't seen them make anybody turn a laptop on in years. I used to carry a 10 gig hardrive/mp3 player with me. I never even took it out of my bag and they only asked to see it once. I wouldn't worry too much.

LoadMasterC141 · February 7th, 2007, 23:53

I would not be concerned about it. I have carried my laptop through more times than I can count and NEVER asked to turn it on. Most of the time, the battery is dead, so I would not be able to do it without plugging it in anyway.

Just make sure you don't give them any reason to bother you. When I go through, I have my shoes, belt, jewelry, etc off, and Laptop out and in its' own bin, before they can blink. It just gives them the notion "gee, this guy must fly all the time, no need to bother him". I go through the metal detector with no issues and on my way.

In the last few years of flying, I have only been detained further once! And that is because I am an idiot and left a pair of needlenose pliers in my laptop bag.

SDpilot · February 8th, 2007, 00:48

I think these days they're much more concerned with catching passengers trying to smuggle 4oz. containers of hair products and spray deodorants.

Kristie · February 8th, 2007, 01:20

they might want you to turn it on or something...are you planning on carrying a cable just in case?

might as well prepare for the worst!

February 7th, 2007, 23:04	#1
TaterSalad Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 342	External Harddrive through security? I'll be dealing with the wonderful people that constitute the TSA at CLT tomorrow, and I'm wondering about taking an external hard drive in my carry-on. I know they have you turn laptops, portable dvd players, etc on..........but there's really no way I can turn the HDD on for them, is this going to be a problem? __________________ More swallows = less storks

February 7th, 2007, 23:09	#2
gredenko Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 102	Re: External Harddrive through security? When going thru Thousands Standing Around, I've never had a problem with my external HD. Once, they unscrewed the face, but it was detachable so it wasn't a big deal. Just try to stay near it so they don't do anything crazy. My external HD led to a near strip-search in Tel Aviv. Unless you're going there, no worries. __________________ "The opinion of the intelligent is better than the certainty of the ignorant" ~ Egyptian Proverb

February 7th, 2007, 23:53	#4
LoadMasterC141 Old Skool Join Date: May 2006 Location: Live in Arlington, TX - From Ithaca, NY - Wish I was on an island in Fiji Posts: 1,948	Re: External Harddrive through security? I would not be concerned about it. I have carried my laptop through more times than I can count and NEVER asked to turn it on. Most of the time, the battery is dead, so I would not be able to do it without plugging it in anyway. Just make sure you don't give them any reason to bother you. When I go through, I have my shoes, belt, jewelry, etc off, and Laptop out and in its' own bin, before they can blink. It just gives them the notion "gee, this guy must fly all the time, no need to bother him". I go through the metal detector with no issues and on my way. In the last few years of flying, I have only been detained further once! And that is because I am an idiot and left a pair of needlenose pliers in my laptop bag.

February 8th, 2007, 00:48	#5
SDpilot Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 79	Re: External Harddrive through security? I think these days they're much more concerned with catching passengers trying to smuggle 4oz. containers of hair products and spray deodorants.

February 8th, 2007, 01:20	#6
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 19,291 Blog Entries: 3	Re: External Harddrive through security? they might want you to turn it on or something...are you planning on carrying a cable just in case? might as well prepare for the worst! __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

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