Bring a external memory drive on flight?

Hi

Since I can't take my whole computer with me to UK.
I had all my files store on my external memory drive.
It's like a size of a thick book.
I know some people take their laptop but can I carry a external memory drive with me on flight?
It have lots of personal files and stuff and I don't feel safe having it in my checked baggage?

Yes, you can bring an external hard drive in your carry on.

Great!
I was so worry they might not allow it thinking it might be dangerous.

If you don't want to be inconvienienced, though, I would recommend taking it out before you send your bag through the scanner and putting it in one of the plastic bins. They only *require* that you take out your laptop, but it seems every time I travel and I don't take out my DSLR camera/external hard drive/medium-to-large electronic device so they can clearly see what it is, I get stopped so they can wipe down whatever it is to check for explosives. It's not a big deal because they're obviously not explosive, but it's a waste of time.

Hi Greenapple,

I'd also recommend perhaps backing the same files on another hard drive or an online service as well. Just in case you lose, drop, bash the HDD you'll be carrying. I've come across way too many times over my IT career where files haven't been backed up and safeguarded and individuals, and business have lost out - sometimes to the extent businesses have failed as a result of lost data.

Depending on how much 'irreplaceable' data you have, consider other backup locations of your files. Maybe copy files to blank DVD disks, other flash based storage and online facilities.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!