A Question about shipping.

[HeadmasterDave]

Hello; I am working with a non-profit organization that is building a school in Africa. We have had several computers donated and have a shipping container ready to go, but we have a concern. Does anyone think it would damage our computers to ship them in the metal container, keeping in mind that the container will be heading South of the Equator and into the heat of a tropical summer.
We know that overheating is a danger, but we're not sure about heat when the computer is switched off.

[PrntRhd]

No danger when turned off, the main danger is theft and damage due to vibration.

[jlreich]

You are going to want to remove the HSF off the CPU and pack it separate. The weight of the HSF with all the possible jolts of shipping could cause something to break on the motherboard. If the clips that hold the HSF to the motherboard break the machine is most likely junk at that point.

In fact I would pretty much take the machine apart. Any add-on cards, hard drives need to be removed and packed in their own anti static bubble wrap or other anti-static packaging.

Just make sure to carefully label everything as you are taking the components out so you know which parts go to which machine.

[PrntRhd]

To add to the prior comments:
A bag of dessicant (silica gel) inside the package would not hurt either, wrap the tower in a plastic bag, throw the dessicant inside and seal with tape.

[jlreich]

Oh yes a very good idea PrntRhd. :)

[HeadmasterDave]

Thank you very much. That is a big help. We might have found a company that specialized in shipping computers, so we might contact them for packing them. We were most concerned about the heat.

[schusterjo]

No heat would not really be an issue, if anything its the bumping around it may endure. when the computers arrive and if one does not boot up then open it and remove all cards/cables one at a time taking them out and placing them back into the slots just to make sure they are seated correctly.