Sorry I'm coming into this a bit late.
The only 'window controls' for Explorer that I know of are under Tools/Folder Options/View.

If you set up an explorer window to the size and style you like, you can then click 'Like Current Folder' to set *all* Explorer windows to that as default. I understand that may not be what you want for every Explorer window you use, but it's a start. I don't have a Vista machine to check out your problem with, so maybe I'm completely off base, anyway.

Another option is to use a different file manager entirely. I have excellent results with problematic mapped drives using xlplorer2 Lite.

The last thing I have to say about Windows Explorer is a fun keyboard shortcut that I use to get it to pop up. [Windows key]+[E] will get it.
([Windows key]+[F] is search!)

Hope some of that helps-