Java SE (Java Platform, Standard Edition)

I received the following pop-up from Windows last night:

Java(TM) Platform SE binary has stopped working

A problem caused the program to stop working correctly.
Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is
available.

I can't find anything about this on the MS or Sun sites, so I have to assume that it's either rare or new. Does anyone know what it means? From the message text I assume it means that windows was terminating the JVM.

This is a new Dell M90, 2.33GHz Core Duo, 2G memory, with Vista Business version 6.0.6000.

The java version is:

java version "1.6.0-oem"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-oem-b104)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.6.0-oem-b104, mixed mode)

I teach J2EE classes online, so this is potentially a major problem. There were no Java apps running, and I have yet to install any IDEs or application servers. I did have some problems the preceding day with the Sun Secure Global Desktop 4.20.909 (could not get to login dialog under IE7 or FireFox).

A user in a Vista forum suggested that I install the b105 runtime, but I'd rather have some idea of the underlying problem first.

Thanks!