Render Error...Lightning effects.

Hi you guys.

Gotta li'l bit of a problem concerning lightning effects. I've done a piece and in that a selection wich I wanna apply this effect to. Haven't been a problem before. But this time I get "can't do that fu**ing effect due to a program error". It's obvious that something've happened and that I probobly have to install it again, was just wondering if anyone came across this before and have anything to add...

Happens to me once in a while. It happened when using PS 6 and is still happening using PS7. Usually I just reboot Photoshop and Lighting effects works fine again

Did just that. But, alas my love, your doin me wrong, trallalalala...Didn't work, 'm'fraid. I bet I have to reinstall it.
Planned not to though...

The overwhelming majority of the time "reinstalling" is not the easiest way to get rid of these little quirks with photoshop.

In most cases you can simply trash the photoshop "prefs" file and relanch Photoshop and everything will be right with the world again.

Granted from tiime to time, there will be a corrupt file in the photoshop file system that warrants reinstallation.... but ALWAYS try the prefs file first.

Is there a default name for that file? For future reference, I wanted to make sure I knew where that was! Thanks.....

This is from the Photoshop 7 help file:

Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) immediately after launching Photoshop or ImageReady. You will be prompted to delete the current settings.

Much easier than looking for the file

VERY useful tip! Thanks, I missed that one.

Ahhh, Torn. You are so good to me.

"but ALWAYS try the prefs file first..."

That did it. I thank you so much, and myself to for that matter. 'Cuz instead of just reinstalling I waited and got back here to check if someone had more input posted...and there it was.