My computer is set up without a printer attached. SWMBO's computer has a USB-connected ink jet. When I want to print something, I use Sneakernet -- that is, I copy the file to a flash drive, run it over to her computer, and print it from the flash drive.

Question: The files go onto the flash drive, but there are also the "ghost files" created, same filenames but preceded by a "._". These files stay on the flash drive even after the original "real" files are deleted. The ghost files are small -- usually 8K or 16K.

What are these?

tanstaafl.