XP Pro OK in normal startup but won't open in Safe Mode

HP Laptop XP PRO SP2

Normal Startup works ok. But when I try Safe Mode startup, the user login
screen shows. I can move the cursor. When I hit any other key, the system
freezes.

If I let it sit frozen, eventually changes to the roving microsoft XP
screensaver (still frozen).

There is only the one operating system to choose from during the f8 startup;
I select startup without any communications or print capabilities.

--
Chewtoo


Background -- just in case it might be relevant.
The reason I tried to use Safe Mode is that someone suggested it as a way to
remove the non-functional AOL 9.0 programs. In regular mode XP Add or Remove
Programs/AOL Uninstaller "has to close" after searching for older versions.
(There are several old versions.)