Streamlining Your Moving Experience

Even if you know your way around a computer case and motherboard, setting up the systems at a new location is an ordeal that could always use some optimization. Cable management and padding are just the surface of getting your systems deployed properly at the new place, so if you want to cut down on box digging, unraveling, and rebuilding after the move, here are a few packing and preparation tips.

Cable Management For Disassembly

Cable management can mean the difference between easily adding and removing components or damaging the internals when you try to pull something out of an untangled mess. The same goes for your move, and many people are surprised at how quickly a set of wires can become tangled.

Do you impress yourself with wrapping, frapping, and coils that would make a sailor jealous? They might look neat now, but one thing to understand about electrical wires and cables is that they behave in ways that can't be compared to rope. Depending on the cable, you may have a series of woven casing layers or internal shielding that fights against your intended wrapping.

This means that despite a neat wrap and a secure tie, loops and stretches of cable can begin to twist and coil in ways that lead to tangles and knots. Instead, make sure to wrap any cables or peripherals against a rigid but non-abrasive object, such as ruler, rectangular spool used for cables, or even a bubble level.

Internal Padding And Safety Through Isolation

When moving a computer to a new location, many people are unaware of what a road trip can do to the insides of a computer.

It's not enough to add padding and security to the outside of the computer. The case does need to be protected from impact that could damage the internal components, but the internal components can be projectiles themselves in certain conditions.

Loose cards and hard drives can slide and slam around inside the system when speed changes, elevation changes, and bumps become a problem. Even components secured by screws can ruin the system, as sharp bumps can cause motherboards and cards to strike their mounting screws hard enough to crack the board material.

Consider dismantling your system and wrapping the individual components. The motherboard can stay inside the system as long as the screws are secured with shock-absorbing spacers, but components such as the hard drive and video card need to be wrapped in anti-static wrappers.

Contact a moving and storage services professional for more advice and techniques for keeping your computers safe during a move.