Vista problem or me

[bumbleb3]

Please can anyone help.I am using elements 6 with Vista.
When I open up a photo in the programme I cannot access any tools.They are in the pane on the left but regardless what I click on when I move the cursor onto the pic it is the handtool there.
This does not happen all the time,probably about 50%

has anyone else had this prob and if so how did you fix it

[Nimblewill]

The first thing to check, make sure your "space bar" or "H" key on your keyboard is not stuck. The space bar changes any tool to the hand tool. What happens when you press "L" (for the lasso tool) or "W" (for the magic wand tool)?
Have you tried clicking on "reset all tools"? If that does not help, try deleting your preferences for Elements. If Elements starts behaving strange, deleting the preferences is worth a try.
I don't use Vista or PSE6. Someone else will probably jump in to help:).