Question : XP SP2 won't boot into safe mode after system crash

Recently my PC refused to boot at all and kept restarting.  I kept getting a message on a black text screen
that XP could not start due to a hardware configuration error.  Tried F8 and Safe Mode and same result.
The next day, it started normally, but NAV was down, many services not working.  No RPC, also no
Help and Support service working, several others, many things changed.  This is a stand-alone PC on
a home network that has a router.  

I have gotten Norton back working, but still not able to use Media Player, Computer Management does
have all of the things it should, cannot access HD says Disk Managment not accessible.  I had
a utility Xteq X-Setup, now it doesn't work.  My PC now seems to be a remote to it's own
system, or is this normal?  Lot's of things seem different from what they were.

System Restore doesn't work, says can't protect my computer, restart in Safe Mode to activate, etc.
I would like to be able to get into Safe Mode cleanly so as to do some repairs and scans.  

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Answer : XP SP2 won't boot into safe mode after system crash

My suggestion would be to do all of the following:

(1) Back up all your important files asap.

(2) Run hardware diagnostics, either using the diagnostics CD that came with your system, or get UBCD from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

(3) If no hardware errors are found, then reformat your disk and reinstall Windows, applications, data etc. Be sure to make a detailed list of all hardware first in case you need to reinstall drivers.

But start with step (1) and create two copies of your important files either on CD or USB memory or both.