How can I boot up WinXP from a CD if it only boots in safe mode?

My computer will boot up only in safe mode, and I need it to boot it up with the Windows XP Pro CD in order to repair it. How can I do this?
If you restart the installation using the XP CD, you will be given the option to create a new installation or repair the existing one. Windows XP will then reload the operating system without first formatting the hard drive and deleting your existing installation. A better option would be to use the System File Checker tool to verify your workstation's system files. Boot into Safe Mode and log in as Administrator. After Windows loads, click Start > Run and type in "sfc.exe /scannow" without the quotation marks. XP may require your original installation CD and a source location for the latest Service Pack that was installed. But this usually gets me up and running without having to do a full repair or reinstall.

This was first published in March 2005

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