Please help .. Connectivity issues .

Hi .. This issue started 1 month ago .. Windows 8 came installed with my laptop when I bought it.
Now whenever I click on the bottom right icon of the available internet connection , the side panel DOESNT pop up no matter how many times I click it . Tried restarting rebooting .. everything . nothing works
PLUS when I try opening Control Panel , the Control Panel windows is blank and wont respond . Please help me fix it i cant connect to networks

update

Hi Mick,
update to 8.1, via the store (then make a back-up), its a complete new OS, hopefuully that should sort it.
then continue updating to 8.1.1.

Roy

Alright Roy I will try updating to Windows 8.1 and will inform you if it works Thanks