It’s exciting to move into a new home, and while there are many things to prepare for before the big day, relocating is usually a good thing. Changing your living location allows you to go through all your stuff and decide what can be sold, donated or thrown away to reveal the essentials that will furnish your new place. However, you need some items, regardless of where you live. This includes your computer setup.
While many people have a laptop and smartphone for getting on the internet, a desktop computer is still an essential piece of digital equipment, especially for avid gamers or working from home. These delicate systems need to be taken care of during a move so there is no loss of data or broken components, which can be a concern when in transition.
Not sure how to safely stow your computer? Here is how to pack a computer for moving.
1. Back-Up Your Computer
This is a good practice in general, but for moving, you want to ensure you have a copy of all data just in case of damage to our system along the way.
You can use a portable USB or an external hard drive and iCloud storage to safeguard all your information. After you have done this, completely shut down your computer and disconnect all cables and accessories.
2. The Packing Material
Most of the items you have in your home can be wrapped in towels or placed in boxes for transport, but delicate items are different. They must be secured from movement inside their boxes to prevent damage. For a computer system, this is even more important.
Collect different-sized boxes that will work for each piece. Bubble wrap and foam chips are essential inside the box to secure the items from movement, and each piece will need to be wrapped in foam sheets or placed in boxes with tight packing material. It is a good idea to double-box more fragile components like monitors to give extra protection.
You also need good packing tape to secure the boxes as they are transported. Finally, pick up a few markers to properly label each box as fragile so extra care is taken when moving them.
3. Box It Up
If you have kept the original packaging for your computer components, then it should keep them safely covered. If not, try to find boxes that are sized for each piece. This includes:
- Tower
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Cables
- Digital accessories like speakers, printers, scanners etc.
Use coloured stickers and dots to label cords so it is easier to reconnect everything in your new place. You can also take a picture of the back of the computer to help you out. Then you can wrap them up and place them in a bag so they aren’t hanging loose in a box.
Separately wrap each component, place them in boxes and fill the voids with packing material to prevent shifting while in transport. If you are moving multiple computers, label them appropriately so there is no confusion on the other end.
4. Transport
Depending on the logistics, you may be using a moving company or having many family and friends helping out with their vehicles. Both ways make for potential problems with handling delicate items like computers. Fortunately, there is a better way to move.
5. Portable Storage Container Rentals
Using a portage storage container for your move takes all the uncertainty out of the equation. All you need to do is contact the storage Kitchener company and arrange for a container to be dropped off in your driveway a few days before moving. You can load it up at your convenience.
Why is this better for your computer equipment? Because you are the only one handling the boxes, you will take extra care in packing the container. Even if you have used the best packaging, boxes can still be handled roughly by movers, which could spell disaster for your computer components.
Your storage container will be packed tight by you, keeping all your equipment safe and secure. Then on a moving day, the company will pick up the container with their tilt-free moving system so the load doesn’t shift, and then drop the container at your new home the same day. When you open the container, everything will be as you packed, with no hassles or damage.
Moving day can be stressful, especially with your computer, but it is a necessary evil when relocating. Even though taking apart your computer setup is a hassle, knowing how to safely transport it during a more will give you peace of mind. Use this as a guide to packing your computer for moving so it will make setting it back up at your new home a breeze. Then you can resume gaming, shopping and remote working in no time.