The best part is when it decides to do this to files on a network share across a WiFi wireless link. I think I put that in my "Why I hate Windows XP" thread from a while back, if not, it definitly deserves to be there.
If anyone finds a solution, I am definitly interested. My search a few months back turned up nothing.
Between XP and OS X on a network, it's a mess. At least Apple sees their mistakes and is fixing my annoyances with OS X in the upcoming X.2 version. Basicially the finder would store a ._DSstore file in every folder to remember it's view settings. Just as irritating as XP storing Thumbs.db everywhere. I am so glad Samba has a "Veto file" option where it silently fails the creation of these files, and if one does appear, it never sends it out in the file listing to the client.