🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <15844@pitt.UUCP>, ansst11@icarus.lis.pitt.edu (Andy Solomon)
wrote:
> Can computer disks with data on them go thru the 
> airport security x-ray machines.

This has been discussed to death in other groups, esp. comp.sys.laptops.
The general consensus is that you stand little or no chance of loss due to
X-rays; this has been determined both by a tremendous amount anecdotal evidence,
and the fact that there was a study (by NBS?  I can't recall) which attempted
to resolve the issue, and indicated no X-ray damage at levels higher than those
encountered in even poorly-maintained airport machines.  On the other hand,
many of both the X-ray machines and the metal detectors can produce powerful
EM-fields (from power supplies, etc.) that *can* scramble data.  It is
conceivable that even though going through the X-ray machine would do no damage,
collateral fields in the machine could.  Similarly, walking the media through
the metal detector is not necessarily a good idea.

You've several choices; first, you can trust the machine.  Anecdotal evidence
indicates that you stand little chance of data loss.  You can request hand-
inspection of the machine and disks; simply be careful not to hand them around
the X-ray cabinet or metal detectors in such a manner that you could expose 
them to magnetic fields.  You may get shielded bags for the disks, machine,
or both (although be aware that if the shielding is lead foil, it won't do
anything for EM protection), although this probably assures a hand inspection
after going through the X-ray machine.  (You should have seen the response a
friend got when a ranked set of lead-foil paint tubes went through and looked
like the magazine from a large-calibre weapon...)

Hope this helps,

		Dave Ihnat
		ignatz@homebru.chi.il.us (preferred return address)
		ignatz@chinet.chi.il.us