You can only do some things, like installing applications, if you have admin privileges. GNOME Documentation Project gnome-doc-list@gnome.org Problems caused by administrative restrictions

There are a few problems that you might experience because you don't have administrative privileges. Some things require you to have admin privileges in order to work, such as:

Connecting to some networks/wireless networks

Viewing the contents of a removable disk plugged-in to the computer, or the contents of a different disk partition (e.g. if you have a Windows partition)

Installing new applications

You can change who has admin privileges.