Finder scrolling drives me nuts

When I choose a view mode in Finder, how do I scroll down the window without the window automatically scrolling up to the top of the page? Even if I choose sort by none, it seems to do this.
MacBook Pro

Not exactly sure what you're asking.

If you're referring to the direction you gesture and the direction Finder scrolls, you can change that in System Preferences under "Trackpad".

it's not the direction of the scrolling, it's that the Finder window scrolls automatically, as I try to scroll down to see the entire lit...Finder keeps moving the screen, so it's a pain to see the whole list

Couple screen shots would be good - don't believe we know what you are describing as windows do not normally scroll within the desktop.

Only way I can think of what you are describing would be if you have the Finder window larger than the screen... e.g. the window extends beyond the screen real estate. In which case, the window needs to be resized to fit within the desktop.

This could possibly occur if you've been playing with the resolution at some time and made the Finder window a certain size while at a lower resolution, then changed the resolution of the display back up to where it should be or vice versa.

Say I want to look at items via Finder sorted alphabetically. When I scroll down to see all the items, before I can get to the bottom of the list, Finder moves the screen back to the top of the list. I can't see the end of the list because Finder keeps taking back to the top of the list.

I'm sorry that I don't know how else to describe the issue.

I get what you are talking about now. I have seen this from time to time as well on my MacBook Pro. I know it happens under 10.8.3 but I don't remember whether it happened in earlier versions.

In my case it happens in icon view. I rarely use list view. Things seem to scroll quickly to the bottom of the window then right back to the top.

I can not duplicate that here on my iMac with 10.8.3. It only scrolls as it should. Maybe it's some feature with the trackpad. Check the trackpad settings. Might be some new option as here I am using a mouse. I do have an Apple Trackpad and will try that.

I had not thought of the trackpad. I have both the Magic Trackpad and the built in one on my MB Pro. Just noticed that they are both active. That setting must have gotten changed when I reloaded tho OS recently.

Can't be stray input to the MP Pro trackpad. That is far enough away I can't touch it accidentally. Going to try turning it off and see if that helps.

I tried my Apple Trackpad and checked every setting under Trackpad. Can't get the Finder window to do anything but Scroll where I want it to Scroll. Tried Icon view. I wonder if it's something exclusively with that trackpad in the MBP?