Is there a way to FORCE XP to go into Safe Mode?

[casey.o]

This site shows how to force Vista/ Win7 and 8 to go to safe mode.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/repair-recovery/a/force-or-stop-safe-mode-windows.htm

But not XP.

I have done the F8 and tried all the possibilities on that infected
computer. It refuses to load Safe Mode, it just keeps returning to the
"selection window". It will only (actually boot) in Normal mode....

 

[Good Guy]

This site shows how to force Vista/ Win7 and 8 to go to safe mode.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/repair-recovery/a/force-or-stop-safe-mode-windows.htm

But not XP.

I have done the F8 and tried all the possibilities on that infected
computer. It refuses to load Safe Mode, it just keeps returning to the
"selection window". It will only (actually boot) in Normal mode....

MSConfig method is a better option for you:

<http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/smsysconfig.htm>

 

[casey.o]

MSConfig method is a better option for you:

<http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/smsysconfig.htm>

I did this and it will not boot at all.
I had to manually restore the boot.ini file.

Then I took the XP install CD, and ran the entire REPAIR on it, which
basically reinstalled XP but saved my settings and things like
wallpaper, programs, etc. It still has the virus and gives me errors.

 

[Good Guy]

I did this and it will not boot at all.
I had to manually restore the boot.ini file.

Then I took the XP install CD, and ran the entire REPAIR on it, which
basically reinstalled XP but saved my settings and things like
wallpaper, programs, etc. It still has the virus and gives me errors.

If you still have viruses and other malwares which you can't clear then
why don't you do a clean install of the OS and start again? I think it
is the best way to move ahead. After doing a clean install. you can
download free avast or AVG Antivirus package and it should work
perfectly on XP. It will take you about one hour to get back into
shape. XP wasn't particularly big by todays standard. Windows 8/8.1 is
big and can take up to 2 hours or sometimes 3 hours.

 

[Stef]

I did this and it will not boot at all.
I had to manually restore the boot.ini file.

Then I took the XP install CD, and ran the entire REPAIR on it, which
basically reinstalled XP but saved my settings and things like
wallpaper, programs, etc. It still has the virus and gives me errors.

Have you tried downloading and running the free versions of Malwarebytes
AntiMalware and SuperAntiSpyware in Normal boot mode? If you can't
download, try downloading them from another computer to a thumbdrive
and running them from the thumbdrive on the infected computer. Then
see if you can boot into Safe Mode and run them again from there.

If none of this works, and since you've already done a Repair Install,
then a clean install of XP might be your only option.

Stef