Unexpected shutdown and reboot

Just a couple of thoughts...

1. Have you visited Dell's Support site?
2. Have you visited Microsoft's Update site?

I had a similar problem with IE6 that was caused by some ad-driven software a user had unintentionally installed. I downloaded a freeware util called Ad-Aware from www.download.com and it fixed me right up.

Perhaps it just seems to be the internet use that resets the pc and it's really the power supply that is bad. It is probably just coincidental that this happens when the user is on the internet--maybe this is just the program that the user uses most... Just a thought as I once had this problem and it did turn out to be a bad power supply. Just a thought... Please let us know how you solved this.

I suspect that this may be your video card. It doesn't matter what browser you use for internet, and it definitely shouldn't do that when clicking on a link, otherwise it would give you an error or crash (close) the browser. If your using a video card that is a little outdated, this is what usually causes the problem because the video card isn't refreshing and gets caught up in itself and causes the system to reboot. also, look in the advanced tab in system properties (right click my computer and select properties)you will see a section for start up and recovery. there is a check mark to automatically reboot the computer on error. I would focus on your video card, because that is what puts the information on your screen.

I would try running IE5.5 and download MDAC2.7 from Microsofts web site to see if that helps. I have seen nothing good of IE6.0. Also I would make sure that nothing has been downloaded off of the net that might have infected the pc with a virus.

If you haven't resolved this yet call the Dell support number. Dell has one of better support staffs out there and it's worth the wait on hold. Dude you got a Dell, you paided for the support, use it.

Previous statment about Dell's support is correct, best I have ever worked with and I do it for a living.Give them a call, they will have your answer and send out a tech to replace the bad component if that is the case. Also I would suggest re imaging if you downloaded and installed IE6, or just get use to having no privacy at all as microsoft will be building it's database with your info and browseing habits. You will soon have all the popups you never knew existed.

A very simple solution which was probably already done, but did you check the event viewer to see if 2000 recorded an error right before rebooting. I know that sometimes in 2000 a error will cause a blue screen which appears for a fraction of a second and then reboots. most of the time you can't even tell it blue screened. This was a problem I was having with Dell C600 latitude's running 2000 and MS Powerpoint rebooting the machine

After reading the previous answers a few things come to mind. Close all other open programs before opening a single browser of your choice and try the hyperlink or manually type in the URL if the hyperlink fails. Have you talked to your Network Administrator reguarding firewall/proxy security settings? Being a new computer with win2K is the computer configured and set to re-boot upon a fatal exception or similar error?

Dell finally came out and replaced the system board, processor and power supply. It still reboots unexpectedly, but not as often.

This question was closed by the author