As you can see I can't select the system options, except time. So I can't see the battery, my network connection status, or the volume. Admittedly I don't use the volume, but I could really do with knowing my battery status quickly, since it's a laptop.

This has happened before but it's usually just the power or just the network status I can't choose, and after a while they come back.

Only thing I've done is installed SP1 for Vista. Is this a vista problem? Is there any kind of solution, because it's getting irritating and not exactly helping

If anyone can help, has any tips, I shall be extremely grateful

Try to do step 2/3:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/106787-n...stem-icons.html

If that doesn't help, try to reinstall the drivers for sound/network. If you are using a battery, try to disable the battery and enable it..

Thanks though the problem was solved earlier today.

I spent ages trying to set up a wireless network (Had some problems with the WEP key) and in the process restarted my laptop several times, and every time I restarted it one of the notification icons suddenly became active  

'Twas a lot of fun adding them one by one

Glad its solved now