Win ME -- Will Only Start in Safe Mode

This is a question about my dad's old computer -- he gave it to me to use at home since all I tend to do there is surf the web.  I also store digital photos on the E: drive.

 

Yesterday when I booted it up, it asked me what mode I wanted to start in, and suggested safe mode.  I booted it in safe mode and used the troubleshooter to find out if there was a problem.  I went through all the suggestions, including restoring it to several previous dates, but each time it wanted to start in safe mode.  When I override that and choose to start in normal mode, I get a blue screen that tells me there is an error and I have to restart the computer.  Then I get the screen asking me to choose a mode to boot in.

 

The next option according to the troubleshooter is to reinstall Windows ME.  I have the reinstall CD, but the computer does not recognize the F: drive (to which the CD drive is assigned) in safe mode.  So I don't know how to do the reinstall.  Any ideas?

 

A related question -- before I tried the reinstall, I tried to backup the photos on the E: drive by copying them to a CD, but I couldn't since the computer is not recognizing the F: drive in safe mode.  (Yes, I know I should have backed up the photos long before now!)  I'm guessing I'd have the same problem if I tried to attach a jump drive (ie, not recognizing the drive).  But my dad also has a transfer cable which he used to transfer files from the computer I'm now using to his new computer (running Windows Vista) -- would that work in safe mode to get the photos from my computer to his?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.  As you can probably tell, I'm not too terribly computer literate, so advice written for intermediates would be appreciated.

 

-M