Stuck in subplot mode, how do I reset the plotting engine?

Any time I plot it shows up as if subplot(2,2,1); was called first. This happens with a new figure, restarting matlab, etc.. I suspect there is some left over state from having paused an iterative plotting routine (watching an optimization proceed by plotting intermediate results). Another possible original cause is having resized the figure while the iterative plots were going on. Both of those actions caused weird plots at the time. Whatever the reason, plotting is now stuck in some non-default mode.

I have tried reset(gca); reset(gcf);

Answer 1

[Jan]

Let me repeat: You start Matlab and create a diagram by

AxesH = axes()

Now the position of the axes is the same as if you run

Axes2H = subplot(2,2,1)

Is this your problem? Then the default settings have been changed. Try:

set(groot, 'defaultaxesposition', 'factoryaxesposition');

Does matlabrc.m or startup.m contain any code, which changes the default position?