How can you get Finder to sort by name, but also sort folders before files?

When I want sort my files and folder in Finder (specially sort by name) they sort all item by name mixing folders and files together. I want a way that sorts (like Windows) first all folders by name then all other items by name. How can I do this?

There's no built in feature in the Finder to achieve that, but with the "plugin" TotalFinder you can get that. It's located under the "Tweaks" tab in the TotalFinder settings.

Edit: There was a screenshot here, but it was out of date. Look at Robsofts answer instead for an up-to-date screenshot!

XtraFinder is free plugin for Finder that allows you to sort folders before files, by selecting "Arrange folders on top" in the Preferences.

After installing and running it, you can tune folder sorting and many other aspects of Finder behavior.

Here is a method that involves a plist setting, and no plugin, or third party app.

To summarize:

Show Package Contents of Finder.app (located in System/Library/CoreServices

Drill down to Contents > Resources > English.lproj. > InfoPlist.strings

Locate the string “Folder” = “Folder”;

Add a leading space before the second Folder as follows: “Folder” = “ Folder”;

Save InfoPlist.strings to the same location (backup elsewhere if desired)

Relaunch Finder (Ctrl+Option+Click)

Open new Finder window and sort files by Kind

Related to the Total Finder answer above (so please don't vote for this answer), here's a picture of the current TF tweaks page (you get to it from the Finder's Preferences screen). With these options I definitely get the folders at the top of the list.

You can also control this from the VIEW menu in Finder, once TF is installed.