What happens if you start one of these from the terminal? Start terminal and type: sudo update-manager (for example) and paste the output here.
** Changed in: gnome-control-center (Ubuntu) Sourcepackagename: gnome-control-center => gksu Status: Unconfirmed => Needs Info -- Administration Items inaccessible https://launchpad.net/bugs/34371 -- desktop-bugs mailing list desktop-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/desktop-bugs