Can't get out of Safe Mode

[Mark]

I'm running a 4 yr old Gateway desktop, Windows XP Media Center, w/SP3.
I was out of town for a week and when I came home the computer was
different. Couldn't connect to the internet and IE8 would not load, Firefox
loaded fine. Noticed the desktop was rearranged and the toolbar at the bottom
looked like Windows 98. The only time the computer restarts is when it
updates automatically. It's on all the time. Here's the problem;

While trying to diagnose the problem, I tried to do a defrag. Wouldn't do
it. I tried to do a system restore, wouldn't do it. So, I went into safe
mode. When it loaded in safe mode, it gave me a choice, click yes to proceed
to safe mode or click no to restore your computer. I clicked yes and it went
into safe mode, then it automatically shut down and restarted before I had a
chance to do anything. Tried again, and clicked no to restore and it said
System restore is not able to protect your computer. Please restart your
computer and it did so automatically. I went to msconfig and set it to start
in safe mode. Now, it just goes round in circles starting in safe mode,
shutting itself down, and restarting in safe mode. I can't get back to
msconfig to change the setting. I tapped F8 key and chose to start normal,
but it started in safe mode again. I can't get out of safe mode now.

I want to do two things.
1) Get out of safe mode
2) Restore my computer to an earlier time to see if that corrects my
original problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[crosspost to WinXP General]

1. How does your problem relate to Windows Update?

2. Who had access to your computer while you were away for a week?

3. What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

4. Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

[Jose]

If your system is infected with a certain malicious software and you
added the /SAFEBOOT option through MSCONFIG, you need to remove the /
SAFEBOOT option from the boot.ini file manually.

The malicious software will keep you from booting in any kind of mode
to run MSCONFIG again in order to turn off the /SAFEBOOT option - that
is what it does.

You can fix the booting issue easily through the Recovery Console if
RC is installed on your HDD, invoking RC using a bootable XP
installation CD or if you have no XP media, creating a bootable XP
Recovery Console CD using files you can download to some other working
computer.

After that, you can work on removing the malicious software(s).

[phoenix74]

Hi, Mark. The problem you are having is with your display adapter or video
card driver. Intel has a free driver for your monitor and can be found in
windows updates. If you can not find it shot me an email and I will help you.
email is rainsr...@yahoo.com