Yes, Item 5 of both BBs is the Status page. It is always the landing page after logging in. But OP is not complaining about lack of Status page, but of the other 2 tabs which are the ones you need to perform any settings.
Both the Brightbox 1 and 2 have the three tabs showing in the GUI for each from what I can see in the images of Status page.
Yes, but the BB2 does not show any tabs on the
login page while BB1 shows all 3. OP has stated he only sees 1 at login and subsequently, the Status tab. Therefore OP has BB1.
I can envisage easily what the OP is describing. Look at the BB1 login and status page images and cross out the tabs '| Basic Set-Up | Advanced Set-Up |'.
Don't see how Safe Mode would help. You can always isolate router.
1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up => 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB => 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB => 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU => 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU => 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC