Solved Can I swap in a hard drive from another computer temporarily?

[cytherian]

I recently obtained a spare computer (Windows 7) that has a power problem, and I won't be able to check out the hard disk on it until the problem is remedied. Meanwhile, I'd like to get a heads-up on the condition of the hard drive. The only other computer I have handy right now is my current laptop, which has a single hard drive bay and is running Windows Vista.

Can I swap in the hard drive and boot up my laptop, or is this asking for trouble? The computers are both HP Pavilion laptops with very similar hardware (although CPU/MB is different [Intel vs. AMD]). Or will booting up cause the computer to do some writing to the hard drive that may affect its ability to boot successfully in the original host computer?

 

[whs]

Chances that it works are very slim - most likely because of the driver incompatibility. And then you also have an activation problem which may not be important for a short test.

Why don't you get an external USB attached enclosure and put it in there. Those enclosures sell for $7 and up. Newegg.com - EAGLE ET-CS2MSU2-BK 2.5" Black USB 2.0 Mesh External Enclosure

 

[cytherian]

^ I was hoping to do it sooner than later... but it looks like patience is the only way to go. Thanks for the tip on the external enclosure. I didn't realize they'd become so affordable. I was looking at getting a direct cable, but for just a few bucks more this nice enclosure would be preferable.