Add Safe Mode Startup to the Boot Menu
It's fairly common knowledge that if you want to start your computer in Safe Mode you can hit the F8 key during the boot process and it will bring up an alternate list of boot options. The trick is finding just the right place to whap the hell out of the F8 key to make sure the regular boot sequence doesn't initiate. It's much easier to get into Safe Mode if you add it to the boot menu as one of the options on the boot loader menu. Here's how:
Make a backup of the current boot.ini file.
Note: The boot.ini file shown below is for illustration purposes only. Your actual boot.ini may vary from this example.
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
Using Notepad, edit the original boot.ini (shown above) so it appears as shown below
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Safe" /fastdetect
The line shown above in red is the line you add. I used the word "Safe" but this can be any word you choose.
Close Notepad and save changes when prompted.
Start the System Configuration Utility by clicking [Start] [Run] and typing msconfig, then click [OK].

Click the BOOT.INI tab.

Highlight the boot line you added with the word "Safe" or whatever word you chose to add above.

Check the /SAFEBOOT option in the Boot Options box and use the radio buttons to add whatever options you prefer.
I'd suggest the MINIMAL option.

Click [Apply] and [OK] and Restart when prompted.
The option to boot into safe mode will now appear on the boot loader menu.

- srikanth dhanwada