Problems with a toshiba laptop

Hi,

I am using a Toshiba laptop (Satellite A70) with opensuse 10.1

In the last days it is working very slowly. I think I might be
having problems with the hard drive.

a- Can I do something to check the hard drive?
b- Could there be another reason for the problem?

Any help and/or advice will be wellcomed.

Please reply to
jorge.a.devoto@xxxxxxxxx

Thanks

.