Keep returning to Windows XP Safe Mode

[Nickster]

This is my first time posting a message..so do bear with me..
Great site with a lot of informational help!!
My Dell Laptop Inspiron 6000 keeps going into Windows XP Safe Mode every time it is rebooted. This issue started two days ago. I even tried to go back to restore point to a month ago but it still goes back into Safe mode.
Clicking "start windows normally" does not work because it comes back into safe mode.
I checked all the Q & A and documents in this site but none of the solutions help address my situation. I also tried scf /scannow but nothing happens.
So I can't seem to get out of the Windows XP Safe Mode.

Any help is greatly appreciated as this is laptop is my main access to work.

[Broni]

Do you have Windows XP CD?

[Nickster]

Unfortunately I don't have a Windows XP CD. I got the Laptop from Dell.

[Broni]

I believe, on Dells, you can access Recovery Partition by pressing F10 key at startup.

[Nickster]

Thanks! I will try your suggestion. What do I do after I get into the Recovery Partition?

[Broni]

You should have repair option (R)

[Nickster]

Okay. I will try that and get back to you on the outcome. Thanks.

[Nickster]

Here is the outcome:

I tried F10 upon restarting, nothing happened  and it still went into the Safe Mode screen. I did observe that   
after the restart, there is a "loading PBR 2...done" that appears (very very quickly), and it is after that that I am redirected to the Safe Mode screen.

I apologize if I was not clear earlier but the safe mode screen that I was referring to is a black background screen with some verbiage about why I am redirected to this screen and asked to select the options below within 30 secs:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Last Known Working Configuration
Start Windows Normally

I did observe that upon selecting Safe Mode with Networking, an entire list of file paths appear:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system32\filenames

Thanks again.

[Broni]

During the POST, the following message should appear:
<F10> = Utility Mode

Maybe with older Dells it's a different key. Just watch the screen when your computer starts.

[Nickster]

I only see "F2=Setup" and "F12=Boot Menu" appear. F10 is not displayed as an option.

[Broni]

In that case, most likely, Recovery Partition wasn't installed on your computer.
They should have provided you with Recovery CD. No CDs at all?

[Nickster]

Dell provided 2 CDs to reinstall Sonic my DVD, RecordNow 7.3 and Cyberlink PowerDVD software.

Dell provided a leaflet stating "your new computer does not require an operating system CD or drivers CD. Instead, if you ever need to reinstall your software, use one of the following methods:
a)Microsoft Windows System Restore
b)Dell PC Restore to get the laptop back to its original state by clicking the Owner's Manual icon"

Tried the Microsoft option but it did not solve my problem. And I think the Dell PC Restore wipes out all my previous documents and uploaded software. Pls let me know if otherwise.

Do I have any other options to get bak to normal mode without wiping out all my documents?

[Broni]

the Dell PC Restore wipes out all my previous documents and uploaded software

Yes, it will. You can always backup your documents from Safe Mode.
I see no other option, but you may want to wait for others second opinion.

[Nickster]

Thanks for dedicating your time in trying to help me solve my problem. I will await others' opinion before I try using the Dell PC Restore option.
Would there be any adverse effect if I were to keep staying on Safe Mode for a long time until this issue is solved?

[Broni]

Would there be any adverse effect if I were to keep staying on Safe Mode for a long time until this issue is solved?

No, just inconvenience.