I was runing suse 10.2 and windows ,i had installed windows on a separate 40 gb hard disk and linux on a 160 gb disk which it shrunk and left some 60 gb which were readable in windows.
Due to the fact that i store alot of data in the windows partions i used all the extra 60gb which where readable on the 160 linux disk but still wanted more disk space so i decided to remove the other 100 gb linux was using up (which it had partitioned into separate drives) ...so that i could later come up with a scheme where linux would use less space.

The sad and naive part of my story is that i deleted these linux partions using the disk managment tool in windows, but i left the ones with my data intact.
When i restarted, the computer could not load any o.s (since i had deleted the linux partitions which included the boot for linux and windows, it used to dual boot ).
I tried to reinstall linux but it couldnt be done on the 160gb drive (thats the message i got during installion) so i formated the 40gb disk reinstalled windows and linux (on the 40gb) so that through, linux i could recover my windows data (the 60gb on 160gb the linux drive) but linux cannot read this drive though formating/partitioning tool in yast can and it reads it as a linux native it says i can only format this disk, it shows that the disk still has data on it and all i want to do is rescue the 60gb windows data on that disk ... please help.

I ALREADY INSTALLED LINUX AND WINDOWS TO DUAL BOOT ON THE 40GB DISK . Windows cannot read the 160GB drive (even if i use the disk management) linux can only read it using the partioning tool....and yes i urgently need the data , thanks for your reply.

well i've retrieved the data .... being used to linux mounting all internal drives automaticaly, i didnt realise that for some reason (i'm yet to find out), i had to manualy mount the drive and retieve the data .

well, what they say is true ... you cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking you had when you created it.