I try to keep a neat and tidy computer but it's makin' me crazy! I can click sort by name, kind, cleanup and if I log out or restart they won't stay in grid or by name or anything. What am I missing?
If you're in Icon View, and you want most of your windows to be in that view, set everything in Show View Options the way you want it, then click the Use as Default button at the bottom.
Another useful view is Snap to Grid. That way you can move the icons around in any meaningful order, and they'll stay put.