help! Why can't I access my control panel/settings/properties?!?

My computer has been working fine until recently...today I wanted to change some of my settings and such but when I right clicked to go to 'properties' I got a prompt saying that this 'operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. please contact your systems administrator.' What does that mean? What restrictions were placed on it (and by who?) How do I get it back? I tried to also go to my start menu but my Control Panel and Settings icons are nowhere to be found and I don't know how to retrieve them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've been very dissatisfied with the help I've received from the Dell hotline and hope someone can easily get me back on the right track. Thanks in advance