possible missing windows files

Hey i have an HP Pavilion zv6000 and recently i have lost the ability to:
1) drag and drop icons anywhere. i can still sort them by right clicking and "arranging icons as...", but thats it.
2) copy and paste anything, anywhere. not even being overly dramatic with this one, unfortunately...
3) unmute my computer. as in, the mute light on the outside is perpetually stuck on being muted. the button ITSELF is fine, yes.
4) use the "function + help" key, but i CAN do things like "function + printscreen".
5) add or remove programs outside of safemode
6) use windows media player.it says its low on ram, which my friend tells me its referring to when it says memory i just found out

all but five are still a problem in safe mode. which makes me believe that its not a virus that is causing 1 - 4 and 6. but just missing some system files. id like to know what files im missing or any other kind of hint as to what kind of problem im having.

 

Any Vista CD should, when booted from, have an option called "Repair Windows." You can also use System Restore if you know when this problem arose and you have a restore point prior to the problem.

 

oh sorry, this is XP

but even then i only have the disc that returns it to the manufacture mode. That would erase everything on the computer and i don't want that.

 

You can still download a Windows XP ISO off the torrents (the legality of which is disputed on this forum as you must obtain Windows from a certified source), burn it, and boot from it to get to the Recovery Console. Just don't use it for anything else.

OR, if you'd rather go around this disputed method, you can still use System Restore. You did leave System Restore on, didn't you?