Can't get to safe mod with F8

I made a fatal error...got fed up with my Windows XP freezing, and pulled the plug outfrom the back. When I went to restart, it eventually brought up a black/white screen with choices...safe mode, safe mode w/networking, safe mode w/command promp, last known good configuration, normal start...I tried all of them and ended up back on the same screen every time. When pressing F8 at the start up to go to safe mode w/command prompt, it won't go into safe mode, so that I can get to administrator, enter a code and pick a date to restore the computer back to. I can't use the system restore disc, because the CD drive never worked...I'm sick to my stomach...can anyone help, please?

It sure would be easier if that system restore disk worked. You could try a system repair from that. You could even reload Windows.

There is an alternative that might work. It would require you to remove the hard drive and connect it to another computer. I like to use a USB adapter to do that.

Can you do that?

Thank you for your response...I'll try.