(this is a question sent to me by email)

    In the cookies file there is a file called the index file. It seems to keep on growing and growing. I always delete a lot of my cookies, mostly the advertising ones. This index file can't be deleted. I have tried. First why is that and second why does it keep on growing in KB? Can this file be deleted in another way? Don't want to try unless I know for sure.

   The index.dat files are in certain folders on your computer.
   They are produced by Internet Explorer and tell where you have been online and by Outlook and Outlook Express to track your emails.
   Windows keeps them open all of the time and so they cannot be deleted.

The index.dat file contains all of your surfing habits, and is not a necessary file. It can be deleted by going to dos before win boots, but the easy way is to use a program like CCleaner, a great, free utility (please donate if you like it) to get rid of index.dat files, temp files, Firefox and IE histories, and much, much more. Find it at http://www.ccleaner.com/download

   A1Click (http://www.superwin.com/a1clean.htm) deletes the index.dat file but previously it did not delete the index.dat files that Windows kept open.  I have now changed that.  The latest version of A1Click will delete all index.dat files.  To use this new feature, you will have to go to Cleaner Settings in A1Click, uncheck the Time Buffer checkbox (be sure to recheck this checkbox after doing this), check the Remove Stubborn INDEX.DAT Files checkbox on tab 5, and run Run Settings.  The stubborn index.dat files will be deleted when your computer restarts.
   Please be aware that deleting the index.dat files may have adverse effects, one of which is that you will have to relog in on this forum, you will not be automatically logged in as usual.

I know windows is a pack rat, but how long does it keep index,dat files? Does XP have a cap on the file size or does it keep growing?

   I do not know of any file size limit.  Index.dat files are kept indefinitely.  So, yes, it keeps growing.
   But please understand that some valid settings are kept in the index.dat file.  After deleting my index.dat files, I had to log into all of the websites that were automatically logging me in before and my bank required me to verify my computer before I could access their website.
   So I would recommend only deleting the index.dat files once a year or so and to be ready to redo many of the logins.