Thanks for the info about NTFS. I'm kind of new to Linux, and did
not know that.

I asked the question with reference to a USB Ironkey drive, which is
a very secure (encrypted) solid-state plug-in I bought for some special
files I don't want falling into the wrong hands. But since I find it
necessary for now to use Ubuntu, Mac OS X, and Windows systems, I need
to be able to access that drive fron any one of those systems nearly
every day. The Ironkey came with NTFS formatting, so I guess I can
just leave it that way. Thanks again.