The system documentation states storage temps of -40 to +149F.  Be sure to bring them up to room temp prior to plugging them in.

You shouldn't put it in the shed due to moisture builds up in sheds and thats not good for computers...  just find a closet or something stuff the computers in there and lock it.

I agree that it is okay to store in the shed ... but you should DEFINITELY allow the pcs to return to room temp. before using them.

 

Forget about storage for the moment. Go some place with the systems, unpack them and connect them up. Make sure everything is present and operating. If you can, burn them in for a few days. Then repackage them until Christmas. This way you will insure they are completely functional and any problems are ironed out within the first 30 days. Of the four systems I've bought, one had a minor problem (shipping damage) that would have to have been corrected in the first 30 days. A second (the laptop) had a DVD drive fail the first day, which was quickly repaired. But you don't want this on Christmas morning!

Message Edited by talmy on 10-30-2002 06:46 PM

Hi,

I agree that moisture could be a big problem for your new computers. But what we do in construction when we need to store in a moist area is to wrap everything up with plastic and place a 60 Watt light inside the wrap. If you keep the bulb away from the paper and plastic the small amount of heat produced will keep the moisture out. Or, you could just use a home heating pad like one would use for back pain set on low heat.
Mis Dos Centavos,
Darrell
Helping Dell talkers here since 1997

Have a friend keep them for you. I wouldnt advise putting thousands of dollars worth of computers into a shed for 2 months!!

Thanks everyone for your response! A couple of things...first, I thought it was a good idea to take them out of their boxes and "burn them in". Good advice because you definitely want them functioning properly on Christmas morning! Secondly, my shed is very dry and I was planning on covering them with a tarp, but given this first suggestion, that probably won't be necessary. Lastly, and I'm sorry to say this this, I didn't spend thousands of dollars, although this equipment is probably representative of millions!

Pentium IV 2.0 Ghz; 256 mg DDR SDRAM; 30 gig HD; 15 inch flat panel monitor; cd-rw (40x10x40); 16x dvd; windows xp professional; $50 off for ordering online....$809 a piece (I bought 2 of them) not including shipping...I think it's a pretty good deal!

Moisture and room temp are a big deal.  Let them come up to temp for several days.  The condensation that forms inside the machine from the warming is not good for it, and you need to make sure you let it dry out for a few days.

I lost the motherboard on an old IBM XT years ago because I only waited 8 hours.  Plan on a few days if you do it this way. 

I would also suggest that when you do bring them in you unbox them and then setup a fan to blow air towards them, to try and get some airflow through the machines to speed the drying.  Nothing strong, just a box fan aimed at the fan area of the PCs.

And the burn-in check within 30 days is a must.  Boot into safe mode prior to going to bed and run scandisk on them all night...