How To Take A Computer Back To Oz

[RueFang]

Hi all. I'll be moving back to Australia soon after living here for almost 4 years...my question is : what is the best way to get a computer back to Australia? A PC, not a notebook/laptop. The screen is no problem, it's flat and fits easily in my suitcase, but the big bulky case..what to do with it?! It weighs 8kg and is huge! I've condensed mine and husband's stuff down but I still think we will be over the 20kg each plus hand luggage (all up will be over 60kg) when including the computer and screen.

I checked postage but to send 10kg back normal post is nearly 4000 baht and I've heard excess baggage is ridiculously expensive. It doesn't fit in any of my suitcases so do I just pack it up in the original box and take it like that as checked in luggage? Any packing advice is greatly appreciated!

[tipsy]

Can you carry it as hand luggage?

[RueFang]

The screen I can, but the case (what's that called!) is really big, so no, can't take as hand luggage.

[RakJungTorlae]

I have taken my desktop computer to and form Australia just adding it to the luggage and marking it as fragile. That was with Thai and Qantas, never came as a problem just needed to get transport organized a bit better because it was bloody heavy with all my other luggage.

[peter991]

The two cheapest options would be:

1) Burn the information/programs you need to DVDs then remove al your personal info and sell the whole system (computer, monitor, keyboard etc) or

2) All the information you require is on the hard drive of your system. Remove the hard drive or get one of those 80GB portable Omata drives from Pantip and backup your data. Then format, reinstall O/S and sell the computer.

It's 4 years old - it's not worth taking back to OZ. Desktop and laptop prices in Australia are about 1/4 to 1/3 of what they were 4 years ago.

Save luggage, save weight, save stress. Leave it behind.

Peter

[TheDon]

Just pull it apart and throw away the case.

Take the motherboard and the drives etc. You can get a decent case for $20 in oz. Thats probably the cheapest way. Im moving to thailand from Sydney in Jan and thats what im doing

[astral]

Just take the hard drive.

After 4 years the rest is just not worth the hassle.

[jeffer]

Put the hard disk inside an external drive case.

A cheap desktop for sale in Australia now will be better than any 4 year computer you might have but if you really like it then also take the motherboard and cpu. Reinstall in a new case in Australia.

The only reason for taking the motherboard and CPU that I can see is if you are using an OEM version of Windows (make sure you have your Windows product #) that is tied to the motherboard (e.g. HP) and won't work with a new one or, being 4 years old you might find new motherboards for your cpu are no longer available. Some Dell computers might not be transferrable to a non Dell case I believe.

If it was me I'd simply copy all my files to DVD twice, check they copy correctly and then you and your husband each carry a set. Nuke the hard disk and then donate the old PC to someone you think will appreciate it. Install your files on a completely new computer purchased in Australia. If you haven't used an up to date PC recently then you will be pleasantly surprised how fast a Core 2 Duo cpu with 2GB+ memory can be.

[tw25rw]

The two cheapest options would be:

1) Burn the information/programs you need to DVDs then remove al your personal info and sell the whole system (computer, monitor, keyboard etc) or

2) All the information you require is on the hard drive of your system. Remove the hard drive or get one of those 80GB portable Omata drives from Pantip and backup your data. Then format, reinstall O/S and sell the computer.

It's 4 years old - it's not worth taking back to OZ. Desktop and laptop prices in Australia are about 1/4 to 1/3 of what they were 4 years ago.

Save luggage, save weight, save stress. Leave it behind.

Peter

Is pretty much what I would do except that I would possibly buy a laptop in Thailand and copy everything onto it.

[intumult]

When I wanted to get my PC from the UK, I also stripped down the innards, packed them in my suitcase (except for the hard drive which went into my hand luggage to save it getting banged about and damaged) and had no problems with the parts on arrival. Bought a new case and had everything I needed to hand.

I did back everything up on DVD. Just in case.

Also when they scan a laptop do they not use a different level of scan so as not to damage the components??

I ask because it is something they always ask me regards my laptop before scanning. Could also be important so as not to damage the hard drive.

[JSixpack]

When I wanted to get my PC from the UK, I also stripped down the innards, packed them in my suitcase (except for the hard drive which went into my hand luggage to save it getting banged about and damaged) and had no problems with the parts on arrival. Bought a new case and had everything I needed to hand.

I did back everything up on DVD. Just in case.

That's the way to do it if you really want to keep it. This gives you the opportunity to buy a really nice case and a seriously good power supply back in Oz, and you have a basic computer that might last another 4 years or more yet be easily upgradeable. While you're at it, you could get a new HDD, clone the old one to it, and use the old one for backups.

[bratpack]

Do what the don said,best way by far.I bought all my hardware from uk and got a pc company to install everything into a new tower and had a monitor too.5000 baht did it.

[RueFang]

Thanks for all your replies. Seems like some confusion about the age of my computer though. It's only 6 months old (I said I've lived in Thailand 4 years, not the computer!). I'm not really much of a techy, so is it easy enough to pull apart? I would have to pay someone in oz to put it all back together again. The reason I want to take it back is to save money by not buying a new one as this one is so new and I've already copied everything from my other computer onto this one.

I'm happy to buy a new case in oz and should be able to dismantle it myself, but I have no idea how much it would cost to pay someone to put it back together??

Cheers again for your advice

[RJJ]

Thanks for all your replies. Seems like some confusion about the age of my computer though. It's only 6 months old (I said I've lived in Thailand 4 years, not the computer!). I'm not really much of a techy, so is it easy enough to pull apart? I would have to pay someone in oz to put it all back together again. The reason I want to take it back is to save money by not buying a new one as this one is so new and I've already copied everything from my other computer onto this one.

I'm happy to buy a new case in oz and should be able to dismantle it myself, but I have no idea how much it would cost to pay someone to put it back together??

Cheers again for your advice

It's easy enough to pull it all apart, you simply need a phillips head screw driver.

Don't drop the hard disk.

If the computer is a generic brand, most shops should charge up to $120 including supplying you with a new case. unless you want a quality case with quality power supply.

If it's a branded computer and/or if it has lots of little levers and all nice things (so you are not using the screw driver) then find the part/model number so you can source the same carcass back here.

Take extreme care with the hard disk; treat it as though you are transporting a brain for a transplant.

Did I mention not to drop it?

Reply to this if you are moving to Melbourne (esp South East) and I will get you back up and running for $25 + case

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