Jamie
Since you did not post this on the wireless side of the forum, I am assuming this is not particularly a WiFi issue.
Be sure to CLEAR (uncheck) the setting 'Allow Windows to power off this device' on your network adapter. It should always run at full power.
There may be many other solutions. Keep reading. There are a lot of posts that may help. Most that I have read are for the E1505 or the E1705, however.
I assume yours is Windows Media Edition. How much RAM?
1 GB or more is ideal, in my opinion.

Find "My Computer" and RIGHT-click to get "Properties"
Click the Hardware tab and then the button "Device Manager"
Among the list of icons you should find "Network Adapter(s)"
When you go into the properties of the specific network adapter then there may be a "Configure" button and in there you should find the checkbox that I mentioned. Make sure it is made empty ("cleared") and then save the change.
It is difficult to tell, especially since it is a new computer. One possibility is a known "infection" which keeps someone from getting through a new web link.
It will be essential that DNS be working, since this is what translates the URL into the actual TCP/IP address that links to the destination.

Thanks for the step by step instructions. The box was checked, and I made sure to uncheck it. Maybe that will help. Thank you for your time and effort. ~~~Jamie

Thank you. I went thru all that when I set it up a few days ago. I just ran it again to check and make sure, and it says no critical updates necessary at this time. It says I can run the custom search, and see if I want any of those files... but I figure the necessary ones are all i need. Thanks for the ideas, as I really had no idea where to begin. ~~~Jamie

Is your Internet Explorer behaving properly?

There are many critical Windows updates which are needed on a brand new computer (at least in general).
I assume you have a fast internet connection.
If you have not already run all the Windows updates, I recommend that you do so. When one set of updates finishes, it may ask that you re-boot.
Keep (re-) running until eventually the process says there are zero more to run.

As far as I can tell, it is. It seems to work fine if I open it from the desktop, or the link under programs. And if I open any links while in that window, it seems to work fine. Every once in a while it will act weird. Like if I'm in my email, and browsing my inbox... should I click on an email... it will open it in a new window sometimes, and other times it will open it in the same window. That's the only thing I can think of that seems a bit odd.

Yes I am. And it's possible I have been sent what u are talking about. I got an email titled "New Graphics Site" by several people on my list. It was crazy. I opened the email, but did not click on anything in the email and did not open any attachments. I did a virus scan which came up clean. 

Today I learned of an attack on the yahoo email system.
You are not in yahoo email, are you?

My understanding (sketchy, admittedly) is that this particular one does/did not require any action to cause an infection for those who got it.
There is a way to stop it; however, it keeps one from getting yahoo email!

http://www.internetnews.com/security/print.php/3613061

Thanks for the info. I will just deal with deleting the unwanted email. I'm sure it will fade as quickly as it began. But I appreciate the update. I was really worried yesterday.