A "Hard Reset" has nothing to do with "Safe Mode". They are two totally different things.
I would suggest trying the "Hard Reset" again, to completely wipe the device and start fresh. However you will still need the original email and password that was on the device when it was first started/used.
NOTE: Doing this will clear 'all' the data on your tablet, so it is suggested you not choose this option unless you have to, or aren't worried about losing anything on the device.
Be sure you back up any data you want to keep, to a computer or cloud account, before doing the reset.
To "Hard Reset" the tablet...
1. Make sure that the tablet is actually powered off.
2. Remove your SD card, if there is one in the device.
3. Press the...