The OFFICIAL Unofficial Achewood Message Board

Trivial Pursuits => Science & Nature => Topic started by: Nabubrush on February 07, 2004, 07:27:20 pm

Title: computer traveling information
Post by: Nabubrush on February 07, 2004, 07:27:20 pm

OK, so I'm moving 2500 miles away or so, and I'm driving down with a U-Haul trailer. It seems to me I read a tip in a PC magazine somewhere that there's an .exe file or something that retracts moving parts inside a computer for moving. Does this ring a bell for anyone? Any help would be much appreciated.

Title: computer traveling information
Post by: jough on February 07, 2004, 08:08:43 pm

The only moving part that retracts is the hard drive read/write head, and since 1995 all of them will automatically spin down and retract the head when you shut down your computer properly.

Being one who's moved quite a bit in the past few years, the only tips you really need to know are:

1) The colder the better - computers hate heat.
2) Avoid dropping any part of the computer onto a hard surface.

Otherwise, you should be fine.  I always move my computers myself, even if I hire a moving company.  I wouldn't trust anyone else to not destroy them.

Title: computer traveling information
Post by: St_Zartan on February 07, 2004, 08:09:10 pm

It looks like it's called SHIPDISK.EXE (http://www.moving.org/brochure/computer.html). I hope this helps.

Title: computer traveling information
Post by: slink on February 07, 2004, 08:10:09 pm

I'm not aware of such a thing, and I wouldn't have thought such a thing was possible. If it is, then damn I need to do it, 'cause I travel with mine fairly often.
Basically though the best alternative is to remove the hard drives, and put them in bubble wrap. If they're in the case you're far more likely to headcrash them if you hit a really hefty bump.

Title: computer traveling information
Post by: Nabubrush on February 07, 2004, 11:35:25 pm

Thanks, everyone, for the info. If I could have remembered the name, I would have been able to search for it, I guess. I guess I'm going to have to trust the current information that I can find, which indicates that my computer is an automatic park and lock system, as Jough indicated, and therefore doesn't need it. I'm hoping that's true, because I can't find it anywhere. Isn't it fun when you find a website that gives you just enough information to convince you that the person writing knows the answer to your question, but doesn't actually answer your question? Anyway, it'll be plenty cold, so I'm sure I'll be fine. I have the original packaging, and I'm going to put the boxes on top of my mattress for extra cushiony goodness. I'm also going to be invoking the name of my personal deity constantly.