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>Does anybody know if passing a laptop computer or floppy disk through an
>airport X-ray machine damages anything?
>I'd like to know before I take my next trip.
>TIA,
>Mike Johnson
>mcjohnso -at- slc -dot- unisysgsg -dot- com
No, the X-Ray machine at the airport will not damage your disks. You are in
more danger of having things damaged by the magnetic field generated by the
motor running the conveyor belt. But the risk is slight. (I've put computers
and floppies through the x-ray machine hundreds of times.)
However, the walkthrough metal detector will damage disks. Do not put a
floppy disk in your pocket and walk through it. You'll survive, but
frequently the data on the disk won't.
You didn't ask, but you should also know about film. The airline will swear
up and down that the x-rays do not harm film unless it is a high ASA. This is
abosolutely not true and they know it, but it takes time to hand examine
film. X-rays will fog your film, and cause a definite loss of color quality.
Always have your film hand examined. And don't send your camera through the
x-ray if it has film in it. Have that hand examined also.
