HELP - computer doesn't keep icons in list view, etc from one day to next

Question

Every day when I turn on my MAC (at work), the settings from the previous day are gone. I prefer my files/folders to be in "list" view, but they are always in large icon view and scattered all over the window. Each day I have to change every folder I open to list view manually. How to I get my computer to remember my settings so that I don't have to change it each day? our "expert" computer guy here at work has no clue, just saying it should automatically remember it, but it won't. Other areas where the same type of thing is occuring: I use InDesign everyday and always want my documents in inches. However, it usually defaults back to picas so when i open a new doc each day, i have to go in and change the settings back to inches. Also, any folders I click on open up a window so large it runs from the top to off the bottom of my screen. i have to go to to Window>Zoom Window so it gets back on the screen where I can size it down. All these things, although minor, are just such a hassle to have to do every single day. any advice is very welcome!! I am by no means advanced on a MAC, so please break things down for me as best you can.

Answer 1

First: Send Apple a Feedback. This has been an issue since the first days of X and is still not corrected in Tiger, from the posts I see there. Apple needs to know it matters to you. Click on "Discussions" at the top of this page and then look at the bottom left of the list of forums that comes up
Second: You did send that Feedback, didn't you. In the same corner is the link to the Users' Tips Library. In it—you'll have to do a search—is the tip from Scott Radloff "Making Finder Views Persistant" [title may not be exact] that you want.
Briefly, Apple's overlay of X onto UNIX broke down here. The 'ownership' of the problem windows belongs to one of those greyed out users like "eppp" and "mysql" that you see under your shortname when you look at Details in a Get Info… window on a file. UNIX needs them, so you need them, but you don't need to defer to their idea of what a perfect window looks like. Not if you're willing to become "root" the superuser and tell them how-to. That's Scott's tip, and do be warned: Rootness is all-powerful, and you must use those powers only for good and immediately renounce them when your task is done.
Now, what were you going to do first? Good luck.