Big Trouble with Safe Mode

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

I have a huge problem with my Compaq Presario R3000 notebook. I installed the
new Yahoo Online Protection suite a few days ago (yes, I know that was
stupid!!!!). Now my poor notebook will not do anything. I tried starting it
in safe mode and all I get is a black screen with safe mode in the four
corners and the build info across the top. It does have the mouse cursor
which moves but that is it. I tried booting from my original XP Pro CD but
the system won't even try to read the CD drive.

I have tried calling SBC technical support but they don't know what to do.
After about four hours, they told me they were esclating my problem to the
Yahoo programmers and that I would hear from them in a few days.

I did an online chat with compaq tech support to see if they could help me
get it to boot from the CD. They suggested that I physically remove the hard
drive and reinstall it. That seems a little extreme to me.

The laptop does not have a floppy so booting from floppy is out.

Any suggestions other than hitting it with a hammer? There is some info on
it that I really need.