Can switching a hard drive between systems cause damage?

[TheMaster26]

I have a hard drive and 2 different systems. I want to know if any damage can happen to the HDD if I use it on the other system just once.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

It won't "damage" the hard drive, but it may not "work" as you expect.

What's on this hard drive? Windows? Just personal data like pictures or mp3s?

What are you trying to do?

 

[TheMaster26]

Windows 7 and I just want to use it to boot up and see if my other system is working. I will install drivers for that system but delete them when I'm done.

 

[TVeblen]

In order to start a previously installed OS on a new system you will need to make many major driver changes, and then change them all back again to install the drive back in the original computer.
This could result in multiple and/or redundant driver files and greatly increase the chances of driver conflict.

A better plan would be to burn a CD with a Linux OS on it (Like Ubuntu, or Puppy Linux) and then boot the problem PC with that.
You will be able to test the main function of the PC and most of the major components using Linux, and you do not need to install the OS or change anything in either system.