Is there a difference between the admin account you can log onto via safe-mode, and a user account with admin privileges (WinXP Home)?

A support guy from Adobe told me that you have to log on via safe-mode, in order to install Photoshop correctly!

I didn't know this, so I installed Photoshop and Illustrator using my default account. None of the programs worked and I couldn't uninstall them afterwards, what does one do then.... other than reinstalling WinXP??