Folder View Options - damn those icons

When I open a folder the contents of the folder are displayed as icons. I then have to access the view tab choose "list" to have the contents displayed as a list of files, documents, etc.

When I close the folder and re-open it, it's back to displaying icons. How can I make the default view "list" instead of icons. This goes for MS Word as well.

I know it seems like a petty item but believe it or not it's begining to irritate me.

Thanks in advance
Halder

In Windows Explorer, and set the views to List. Now choose Tools > Folder Options > View. Now left-click on Apply To All Folders.

Thanks, efc, that was much appreciated.

Halder