"Unplugging" ext GHOST HDD when computer on "standby"?

We've had some break-ins around my neighborhood lately.  So, while the computer is on "standby/sleep" I've started unplugging/disconnecting my USB 2.0 ext HDD (F, where I store GHOST recovery points), and locking it in my closet when I leave.  If someone steals my computer, then at least I would still have my "data."

 

I posted about 2-weeks ago that GHOST has indicated F is about to fail.  Since such messages only started about the time I began unplugging it, I wonder... Is this a bad thing to do??

 

Appreciate any help.

 

Robby

 

[Win XP SP3; 2004 Toshiba 17" laptop; C: 80GB; F: 80GB; 1.5GB mem; 3.1 GHz dual-core.]

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And, some background, if it'd be helpful:

 

A little over 2-weeks ago GHOST 14 said my ext. 80 GB HDD  (F - where I save GHOST recovery points/rp's) was about to fail.  Wouldn't do "incremental" rp's, yet would do a full system rp.  Anyway, told GHOST to "ignore bad sectors in copying," and it ran incrementals (and full system rp's) OK.

 

Ran a chkdsk /r back when this started and it showed 8KB in bad sectors.  I posted about this on the Forum here and someone said even though 8KB is a small amount, it indicates a disk failure that will get progressively worse.  Today (about 2-weeks later) ran another chkdsk /r on F.  Still same 8KB in bad sectors.  So, no worse.

 

BTW, today ran a chkdsk /r on C also (a 2-year old Maxtor HDD).  It shows same 8KB in bad sectors -- same as when it was new.  Go figure.

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