I have a Compaq Presario 061 PC with Microsoft windows xp home edition version 5.1.2600

And since the past 3 days I haven't been able to open MYDOCUMENTS, MYCOMPUTER or CONTROL PANEL using the start menu.

To my knowledge I haven't installed anything new but I have altered the pop up settings to a more strict level. I've tried restarting my comp, defragmenting my comp but no success. I've also tired to run an aol computer check and do a system restore but it won't let me do neither.

If anyone can please help me in the slightest it would be much apprieciated as I've got a load of important work on here.

So thanks in advance, if you want any more info on the situation please ask and whoever helps me is the computing master of all time in my eyes.

If you can right click on your taskbar and open task manager.
Click on new task and type in explorer.

more then likely you should do this. Install your Windows installation disk, let it boot up. Then do a manual recovery.
Type in CHKDSK /R and let it run its course.

You might have bugs in your system too.

What firewall and Antivirus are you using? None. Sound like it

If you can get online download ccleaner and run it on your sytem

let me know if this information helps you at all.