In order to resize several elements at once, you can GROUP them, which is not the same as LINKING them. You would have to select all the layers you want to group, then go to Layers > New Layers Group. You will see all the layers grouped together.
Once you are done putting all the layers inside the group, you can resize using the Pick tool or the regular Resize command.
P.S. that does not work with older versions of PSP where you would need to add layers to the group one at the time and only resize with the Resize command.
If you were to remove some sections of the photo using the Delete key on your keyboard and the layer was a Background, that is why it would fill back to another color. Right-click on the layer and Promote Background layer. After that, the layer will become a Raster and you will be able to delete without any color filling that area. Was that the case?
