Problem With Utilities Folder

First, I want to explore/clarify the "enclosed folder" statement. By default, the Utilities Folder is in the Applications Folder. Thus, the Utilities Folder is the "enclosed" folder, and the Applications Folder is the "enclosing" folder. Is this different in your case?

Secondly, what settings are being changed and then ignored? Are you aware of the "Always open in _____ view" checkbox? Whatever is in the ______ is the type of View that it will open in, regardless of changes you make to the View. This allows you to temporarily view the folder in another mode, but reverts back to the preferred mode next time.

Sorry, that's what I meant—the enclosing Applications folder.

Any settings I change in the Show View Options panel aren't being saved. For example, if I change the icon size, grid spacing and arrange by settings, it will stay like that until I restart or logout, and then it will revert to the default view.

I've attached two photos to show you what I mean. The first is how I'd like it to stay. After a restart, the settings are changed to the second photo for some reason.

It looks like a permissions problem. Boot the machine with your Snow Leopard DVD. After it boots from the DVD, escape out of the install process by selecting "Utilities", "Disk Utility" from the top menu. Select the First Aid tab and run the "repair permissions" routine. While you're at it, it won't hurt to do a verify and repair run for the hard drive. After that's finished, remove the DVD and reboot. If that doesn't resolve it we'll have to look elsewhere.

Regards.

From what I can see it is because in the first image the OP hasn't selected use as defaults!

But if the OP doesn't want the same settings for all windows, not clicking Use as defaults is proper. I'm wondering if the Finder's plist file is hosed.

HD/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
Drag it to the Desktop.
Restart.
Better?
If so, trash the file on the Desktop, you have a new one now.