Computer Not Working After a Move: What Might Have Happened and How to Transport It Properly

Everything's moved, the boxes are unpacked, you plug the computer in — and it won't start, or it starts but there's no picture, or Windows won't load, or the internet doesn't work in the new flat. Moving house is one of the most common reasons people call us. The good news: most of the time the problem is simple — something has come loose or is plugged into the wrong place. The bad news: sometimes the drive, graphics card or motherboard is damaged in transit, and then it's important not to make things worse.

What happens to a computer in transit

In a vehicle, a desktop tower is subjected to vibration, jolts over potholes, tilting and sometimes drops. Inside are heavy components mounted on a relatively fragile circuit board: a massive CPU cooler, a long graphics card, hard drives. In a knock they act like levers and can pop out of their sockets, damage a slot or even crack traces on the board. Add temperature and humidity changes — especially in winter or if equipment is left in a van — and it's easy to see why computers sometimes misbehave after a move.

Typical faults after moving

The most dangerous failure: the hard drive

A mechanical hard drive is the most vulnerable component. Its heads fly nanometres above spinning platters, and a hard knock can damage the surface or the mechanism. If after a move the drive clicks or grinds, the computer takes ages to boot or files open with errors, switch it off immediately. Every power-on of a damaged drive risks destroying the data for good. Rescue the data first and think about repairs afterwards.

Heavy coolers and graphics cards

Tower coolers weighing close to a kilogram and long graphics cards put a lot of stress on the motherboard in a knock. Cards can work loose from their slot, the slot itself can be damaged, or the bracket can break. For towers with large components, it's often best to remove the graphics card and pack it separately in an anti-static bag.

Condensation in winter

If equipment is moved in the cold and switched on as soon as it's brought into a warm flat, condensation forms on the cold parts. Moisture on the board at power-on can cause a short circuit. After a winter move, leave the computer, monitor and especially a laptop at room temperature for 2–3 hours before plugging in.

How to move a computer properly

1. Back up all important data.
2. Shut down properly, unplug everything and photograph where each cable went.
3. If possible, remove a heavy graphics card and pack it separately.
4. Pack the tower in its original box or sturdy cardboard with soft padding, lying on its side with the motherboard side down.
5. Move the monitor upright in its original packaging or with the screen protected, with nothing stacked on it.
6. Carry the equipment inside the car rather than in a cargo area, and don't stack heavy boxes on it.
7. In winter, let the equipment warm up before switching it on.

Internet at the new place

Getting online is a story of its own. The new flat may have a different provider, a different connection type (fibre instead of cable), an old provider router, or no wiring between rooms at all. Often the router and Wi-Fi need setting up from scratch and a cable run to your desk — especially if you work from home.

What a technician does

1. Connects your equipment at the new address and checks every connection inside the tower.
2. Checks the drive, graphics card, memory and coolers after transport.
3. If the drive is damaged, rescues the data first.
4. Sets up internet, the router and Wi-Fi in the new home or office.
5. For office moves, disconnects, transports and recommissions workstations and the network.

A real example

A family moved from Gldani to Dighomi and found their computer would start but the monitor showed "No Signal". They were about to buy a new graphics card. The technician opened the case: the heavy graphics card had worked a few millimetres out of its slot in transit, and one memory module had popped out of its clips. Once reseated, the computer worked. While we were there, we set up the new provider's router and ran a cable to their son's computer so his games would run without lag.

Let us help with your move

We work across Tbilisi around the clock, reconnecting equipment after moves, setting up internet and networks and rescuing data. Learn more on our 24/7 computer help, internet setup and hard drive data recovery pages.