Basic eraser tool no longer produces transparency

Photoshop CS6: In the past, basic eraser tool produced transparent areas when run over the background layer. Now it producers background color. Magic eraser tool and background eraser tool work as they should, that is they produce transparency wherever I select. How do I get the basic eraser tool to behave?

Photoshop CS6 for PC
Thanks for your replies. Resetting tools did not work. This is what happens when the three eraser tools are applied to background layer of a grayscale, .tif image with no other layers created.
Select basic eraser tool and apply to background layer background color (white in this case) is applied to background layer wherever basic erase tool is applied to image as if it were the brush tool.
Select background eraser tool and apply to background layer. Transparency appears wherever background erase tool is applied to image.
Go back and reselect basic erase tool. Now, transparency appears wherever basic eraser tool is applied.
The same thing happens when the magic erase tool is selected, that is if I select it, use it and then go back and reselect the basisc erase tool, transparency results wherever basic erase tool is applied to image.
In the past, basic erase tool has worked with background layers.
Complicated circumstances. Any other thoughts?

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hi,
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-> live trace
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Basic eraser tool no longer produces transparency

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