Having issues with the photoshop brushes

[are21]

I dont quite know how to explain this properly, but I will try.
I use cs3 and am happy with it. However, quite often when Im using the brush, it will go from showing me with the circle the sizes I choose to turning into a little cross and I cannot see what size it is. It makes it hard to use precisely.
If I restart my entire computer, it fixes it, but only temporarily.
Any advice would be so much appreciated

 

[Rich54]

There is a good chance that when this happens it's because you have accidentally hit the CapsLock key on your keyboard. The brushes behave exactly as you describe when the CapsLock key is pressed. Rebooting your entire computer probably resets the keyboard.