Safe mode loop, unable to boot system

I have a laptop that comes up to the safe mode screen when turned on. Regardless of which option I select, it starts bringing up the black windows XP screen then shuts down and goes back to the safe mode screen. No options work. If I try to start when pressing F8, I get the same result. I created XP boot floppys but get an error when trying to boot. How can I get this machine up and running? I have some important files I need to recover before I drop it from a tall building.