after running ad aware and deleted all the cookies as required. then i go to windows/cookies and still see this 'file' with microsoft wave logo named as 'index.dat'. this was there before and after i do the delete function from the ad aware. can i delete this 'index.dat' file. anyone can advice. many thanks

Is it causing a problem? You can't delete it while Windows is running because it's being used. I see no reason why you'd want to delete it unless it was causing a problem. You may need to start in Safe Mode to delete it (if there is a need to delete it). or you might could create a bat file that will run before Windows starts to delete this file... there are several threads on this subject you can read...

http://www.acesoft.net/delete_index.dat_files.htm

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/del_index.dat/

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win2000/Q_20892813.html

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Q_20648806.html

http://computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/111809.html

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

Want to see whats in the index.dat files;
index.dat "Viewer"
http://www.acesoft.net/index.dat%20viewer/index.dat_viewer.htm
http://www.exits.ro/index-dat-viewer.html
http://www.topshareware.com/Index.dat-Viewer-download-1761.htm


http://www.acesoft.net/delete_index.dat_files.htm
http://www.pcmesh.com/internet-cleanup.htm