Does anybody know what key to press at start up so I can get into safe mode. I am running “WINXP SP2 and motherboard ASUS p4p800se.” Please help if you can. Thank You.
tap F8 after the bios had loaded, i think. you may get a keyboard error message. if so, just try again the next time 
When I press f8 it does not take me to safe mode. I go to a screen that says “Please select boot device.” What could be wrong. Please help if you can.
Visionary Support Knowledge Base .: Alternative Way to Go Into Safe Mode
maybe that will help
just turn on your pc then hold down the key and you will be presented with a menu with things like “start normally, last known good configuration, safe mode” just select an option with the arrow keys and press enter to select
EDIT: F8 - brings up the boot menu, as does pressing the CTRL key
F5 - takes you directly into safe mode
this last 1 is wrong, i think it may be Shift + F3
CTRL + F3 start the computer and asks the user to comfirm each command
you press these keys directly after POST (pc beeps)
EDIT: an item in the menu says “safe mode” just select with arrow keys and press enter
sorry for inaccurate info but if going on memory, F5 + F8 are correct though