user account control problems

Well anytime a program opens and I have to verify with user account control by clicking continue the programs load up with no problems. But whenever I go into the control panel and try to change something that has the little windows shield in front of it and everytime I click it the user account control windows pops up saying that windows need permission to continue, I click continue and nothing happens after. The panel for the settings I want to change never opens. Like if I want to change account name or type, or turn user account control on or off, the user account control window pops up asking for permission to continue and when I click continue nothing happens. This makes it impossible to change account name and turn user account control on or off. I am using vista home premium