sub reset {   
    my($self,$default) = @_;

    $default = $File::CounterFile::DEFAULT_INITIAL 
        unless defined $default;
    
    if ($self->locked) {
        $self->{'value'} = $default;
        $self->{updated} = 1;
    } else {
        $self->lock;
        $self->{'value'} = $default;
        $self->{updated} = 1;
        $self->unlock; 
    }
    $self->{'value'}; # return value
}