Don't know about the text tool prob, but I have a good candidate for the shape layer fix.
I'm guessing you've somehow selected the middle button of the three I've circled.
You need the left-hand one selected to make a new layer with a vector shape.
mofaha ┐( ˘_˘)┌ ʅ(́◡◝)ʃ,
Tue 6 Dec 2011, 22:34,
archived)