What is the procedure with laptops and security at airports?

I am travelling to Latvia in a little under two weeks and may be taking a laptop in my hand luggtage not to use on the plane, but just so that it does not get thrown around! When I go through security, do I have to remove it before they put it through the security xray?

Mrsjvb2012-10-11T04:57:50Z

it must be completely removed from the case/carry on and placed in its own bin to go through the x ray machine.