You have to BOOT from your Windows XP CD and then select the quick format option then install Windows XP.  You can't do it from Windows XP (or XP Safe Mode). 

FYI, the correct install sequence (Physically disconnect any printer, all in one, scanner etc BEFORE starting the install) is (1) Install Windows (2) Install chipset drivers (3) Install Device Drivers such as sound video, etc. 

You have to BOOT from your Windows XP CD and then select the quick format option then install Windows XP

obviously.........as I said in my thread I was having problems due to viruses that made doing this the 'correct' way difficult

SO, i tried it in safe mode and learned I cant do that and now I am faced with the viscious circle my computer seems to be stuck in

SO, I posted the question(s) in this forum

I appreciate your reply but my question(s) was not answered

Could try the old FDisk method.

I had a similar problem a while back and used FDisk. Not sure if you have a floppy drive. I did not and had to use a USB floppy drive.

Search internet for how to make a bootable floppy with FDisk on it.

Once you make teh floppy, boot off teh floppy and use FDisk to delete, format, partition etc... This will erase everything on hard drive and then setup XP in the usual manner using the CD.

And before anyone asks.. yes.. It worked for me.

Some systems will boot from a USB device and some will not.  So it's a 50/50 chance if this system will do it.

But, the XP CD, being bootable should be able to do whatever is needed.

^ The XP CD should. But in this case it is not.

So no harm in trying out the alternate method.

This is the first case, that I've come across, that wouldn't boot from the Windows XP CD, with virus/malware.

did anyone actually read my original post that laid out my scenario and question?

I changed the computer to boot up in safe mode in msconfig so unless that is changed in msconfig my computer will always boot in safe mode. I attempted to run Windows setup (from the CD!!!) in SAFE MODE. I get an error message while running setup saying I 'cant run setup in safe mode. setup will restart'. My comp then restarts but of course boots up in safe mode again. this is the circle I am referring to.

I dont want/need advice on how to reformat my machine, my Dell has a reformat partition. I am all over different ways of reformating I just didnt know setup could not be run from safe mode.

none of the 'shortcut' keys will work when my machine is booting up. F11, F12, del, etc do nothing when I press them at the Dell bootup screen.

My, my, my.  You ask if anyone has read your original post.

My question to you have you actually read the response - I mean read and understood - the post by fireberd?

He did give the you the ONLY solution to your issue.

wow.....not only another useless reply to this thread but also questioning my ability to comprehend a task like boot from the XP CD.

my frustration is getting the better of me here and I am sure I have offended enough people that I wont get any more help on this forum (I use the word help lightly). but seriously go back and read my question - "how can I get out of booting in safe mode OR how can I cancel windows setup from running". booting my computer from the XP CD is not the ONLY solution to those questions

jab, I would like to ask this as you do not specify: have you tried the F2 key? on my Dell this gets me to the BIOS, where you can change boot order if the pc is not set to boot from CD.