Cannot Boot in Safemode WinMe

WinMe “shaky windows system” cannot boot into safemode tapping F8 or holding CNTL down during boot process. The system comes up in normal boot manner. I only have a restore sysdisc from hp and going to xp will lose some applications that are now working. Suffured failure in Symantec’s SystemWorks when power failed in normal virus scan. I have removed SysWorks
as per Symantec WEB directions. Now, no safemode boot.