duplicating 5400 rpm hdd for 7200 rpm HP Laptop 17-cp1000

[Tracey2032]

Can I use a disk copier to duplicate the hdd  to swap out the 5400 rpm with a 7200 rpm hdd and keep the 5400 as a backup?

If so, is there anything I need to know  before I start?

Does the 16MB partition need to be copied as well (see below, this additional partition was NOT in Windows 7).

Please advise, Thanks

Disk Management shows 3 partitions: 2 hidden  (hp/system) and 1 C:/boot partition (which is what I had with Windows 7).

When I try to use a disk copier, it shows 1 additional 16MB partition (4 partitions total)

I cannot un-check/by-pass/exclude the 16MB partition.

[Tracey2032]

Additionally I was keeping the spare drive updated by just copying the C:/Boot partition whenever I made software changes to the computer.

Just FYI

[resistencia · Accepted solution]

Hi @Tracey2032 

The speed in RPM does not affect cloning. Since it is cloning, it must clone everything, including each partition. Now, if you are only copying data, it is not necessary to copy any partitions.

Remember that a backup disk to start the operating system will not work if you copy it; it works when you clone it.