I'm researching TVs as well and Samsung is on the top of the list.

CNET said that with some Samsung models, the screen goes blank if the scene is too dark, although I don't remember which one it was.
http://reviews.cnet.com/televisions/

I bought a Samsung LN46B650 and last night got around to plugging in the ethernet cable. Guess what? The TV rebooted while watching a movie!
Is the solution to not use the Internet?

Thanks for the usefully and interesting Archive. I will be test it on my TV.
Many regards from Germany

@Justin:

I still haven't been able to track down the exact issue--which does indeed stink. Even though the TV is no longer running as a DMZ, I still get the TV reboots. I'm hoping Samsung resolves this in a firmware update. However, the firmware on their website appears to be older than the one offered via the online update. This is a problem since I can't hook up to the internet.

@Justin:

One thing I haven't tried yet is replacing the ethernet cable. The cable I used wasn't marked, so I'm not sure if it was a 6e cable or not. I'm wonder if maybe I'm getting enough interference from the power cable or HDMI cable that it's causing an issue.

@Justin:

What version of the firmware are you running? I'd like to upgrade to 1017, but since they only have 1013 on their website and I don't trust my TV to stay on while attempting to upgrade via the Internet, I'm basically stuck until they decide to post the lastest firmware to their website.

@Justin:

Thanks for the pointer. I'll have to try that later tonight and see what happens.

That does suck. There are a ton of settings in there. I do know that my TV hasn't rebooted on me since making those changes. I'll keep monitoring it though. The firmware might be the issue. One thing you can try also is unplugging your other computers/devices from the network and see if your TV stays on. If so, grab the firmware update with everything else off and see if that helps. My router is a D-Link Gamer Lounge router (DGL-4300) I don't know if the router has anything to do with it, but I figure I'll give you as much info about my setup as I can to help you out.

Good luck.

Here's another update on something else I tried...

I turned off the media option in the home network setup as well, but I think the setting that actually worked was the ... I forgot the name... something like "anynet link" or something with "link" in it. It's the *feature* that lets you turn off other connected HDMI devices that support some specific standard. I've had these settings for almost a week now and so far I've had zero reboots.

Hopefully, that will work for you. Also, my firmware is from November from the internet firmware update.

@Matt:

I'm not sure servicing will help, but if you like the option, go for it.

I had my original TV replaced and had the exact same issue w/the new TV. I've had zero issues since it's been unplugged from the ethernet cable. I think there's something in the ethernet firmware/code that causes issues if it sees certain types of network traffic.

I keep meaning to try shutting down all my internet appliances to see if I can figure out what the root cause is, but it's more a bother at this point than resolving the issue.

Certainly keep me updated if you resolve the issue!

Another Update. While that last thing I posted seemed to work for a while, it happened again at some point a little after I posted. It's REALLY annoying as I'd like to be able to use some of those features every now and then. But I can't due to the problem. Looking on the web, there are other models with the same problem. I don't know what is causing it, but it must be driver related as Dan suggested.

Anyway, if I find any real fix, I'll post it.

I'm having the exact same problem, but this only started happening around August 1st 2010. It has been REALLY HOT here where we live and most everyone is now running their air conditioners. My thinking is that somehow the tv is not getting enough power or surges are coming down the line. I'm not really sure, my TV is the 5 series and does not have the internet connection.  So it can't be the internet on mine. I have also done the same tests such as unplugging HDMI, running direct thru cable, disconnecting all devices, worknig in other modes.

Still, the past 3 days it was not as hot outside and the TV didn't turn off/on once.  Now today has been hot and its doing it every 15 minutes.

Could power be the issue?

Also for updating - does your USB stick need to be formatted a with NTFS, FAT32 or FAT16. I plugged in mine with the update on it and it said no update was available.

Thanks guys
Fever

I think that is the problem too. they called me today to do a service call but i have to pay $90 just for them to come. I'm going to wait and see what happens. My tv was purchased through a liquidator so I am not entitled to warranty.

I have a recently purchased LN52B610 that restarts every two hours. Exactly two hours. Mine does not have an ethernet port either. Interestingly, when I talked with Samsung support, her first instruction was to unplug the TV from the surge protector. That, of course, did not resolve the issue.

Googled and found this thread. Thought I would share. Will call Samsung again and see if they have any better ideas.

I also have a Samsung 52" LCD without internet capabilities. Mine has had this issue for over a year now. It is really random. Sometimes it will happen multiple times in an hour, and then it will go days without doing it. 

I have read some theories that it was caused by heat, and that adding a fan to help air flow through the TV will help significantly.....but this really doesn't help the LED TV people as a fan would be 8 times the thickness of the TV.

I guess I'm going to rig something up so I have a couple fans on mine, and I will try and report back in a couple weeks.

I had purchased the SAMSUNG LNS4096D LCD in January of 2007; the TV had been promoted as the ultimate 1080 P television due to its amazing contrast ratio, but last year my SAMSUNG has not been performing as advertised.... whenever the TV is turned on all I see are white dots from corner to corner. The white dots are superimposed onto whatever is being broadcast on the screen. What is causing all of these white dots to appear on the screen? Can this problem be repaired? Has my LNS4096D reached the end of its utility after only 4 ½ years?

It seems odd that it would be a power supply issue when unplugging the network cable solves the problem. Maybe this weekend I'll unplug all of my other network attached devices and see what happens. The good news for me is that I have a new main computer so maybe my issue was with a conflict with my previous one.

If I ever do find the cause and a permanent fix, I'll be sure to post it. Does anyone know if any firmware updates have been released for the TV?

Potentially good news... This is a fairly long explanation of what I did, but there may be pieces that help others have a "ureka!" moment.

After turning all of my computers off (Mainly the home server which I think would be the cause out of all of them), I plugged the dreaded network cable back in to my switch. I then decided to check to see if there was a newer firmware. sure enough it reported back that there was a newer version 001018. I had 001017.

So I did the update, it rebooted and I launched my yahoo widgets and checked out the Amazon instant streaming (I'm a prime member and the free video streaming is what got me interested in solving this issue again). I authorized my TV on the amazon site and tried to check it out.

At first, it wouldn't stream. Then I went to the widget gallery and it said that updates were waiting to be installed. So, I turned the TV off and then back on and went to the internet widgets again. It updated like 14 widgets and I then went to the Amazon video widget. Sure enough, it started streaming just fine. I didn't really want to sit through a whole movie right then, so I stopped it and put on my regular DirecTV. No random reboots yet, but I had other things I had to do. So I turned everything off. And then turned the computers back on.

This was all done on Saturday. Sunday saw lots of use and so did Monday evening with no reboots yet. I'm going to still monitor the situation and look into a line conditioner for power in case there is something to the dirty power theories. It might be important to note that I have never had a service call on the TV. Nor, have I replaced it. It is the same one I got at the beginning of 2010.

So, to recap, the things I did was:
1. Turned off all networked computers in my house
2. Updated the firmware to the latest 001018
3. Updated all of the Yahoo Internet Widgets
4. Media services are all off still (like videos or pictures, music, etc.). I have other devices for that stuff anyway

So far it's working as advertised. Hopefully, it stays that way. I'll report back if I notice the error again. I hope this helps.

Nearly 2 months later and no random reboots. I'd say it's working pretty good with the new firmware. I would definitely unplug all of your other devices while you're applying the update from the internet on your TV just to be safe.

Good luck.

That could be. Since I have a PS3 and 360 connected to the TV, I don't really use the TV's media sharing features. I did want to use the Yahoo Widgets though. I still have all of my other sharing features turned off and I haven't experimented with which one(s) were the culprit. If yours exhibits the problem very frequently, then you might be able to track it down a lot easier than I did as mine would sometimes not error for multiple hours.

Hi all, I have a Samsung UN46B8000XFXZA model purchased new in Oct '09. About two months ago I started to have the "reboot" issue that you all seem to have. At first I thought that it just might be a power outage or brown out, as it only did it a few times and they were spaced by about a week or so. Now it has gone one even better! It will sometimes display a "split" screen effect with a perfect left half of screen and the right half will have from top to bottom a series of fine, saw tooth horizontal scan lines, scrolling down from the top of the screen!!! I have a filtered surge protector, Comcast cable, I have a computer in a separate room also on the comcast cable modem. But I dont't have a pc connected directly to the tv. I had a local tv tech come out( $79) and he was stumped, he thought that it might be a "tcon board" or the panel. Estimate was about $396 I am waiting for a reply from anyone that has had the same problem. I have a video of the split screen problem, and the reboot is self explanitory. Thanks a million, Rick

Had my TV for about 2 months...the reboots just started happening yesterday.
I discovered the network cable removal trick but that doesn't really solve the problem since the TV is a "smart TV".
It has wireless but I haven't tried that.

Did anybody ever solve this one?

Thank You! At the end of a bad week I sat down to watch TV and my Samsung started power cycling. It was the last straw for me. Spent about an hour searching Google and came across your posting. 

One of the things that set me off was after a power and internet outage none of my computers would connect to the internet, but my wireless laptop and ipad would. Plugged my computer directly into my Uverse gateway and disconnected everything else and it worked. Reconnected my network and the computer was still working so I thought I was good. However I found my kitchen computer was sill not connecting to the internet. At that point I went to my media room and tuned on my TV and got the cycling issue. We had storms on and off the past few days, but the TV was fine yesterday. Decided it might be the dreaded Samsung capacitor issue. 

Then I got to your page and voila' network, issues, TV issues, it all came together! I simply unplugged the network feed to the TV and all is well! Thanks!

I had this same problem, but it was just a little different. I have a PS3, XBOX 360 and Verizon FiOS television. After owning a LN52blah blah for around three years, this started happening to me two nights ago.

All of the components (PS3, XBOX, tv box) are connected to my A/V receiver via HDMI. There is one single HDMI (out) cable running from the A/V receiver to the television.

The television itself was not hooked up to the internet (although it does have the capability) but every single other component was/is connected directly to a network switch/hub which is connected to the wall.

When the television started rebooting, I was playing Black Ops 2 on multiplayer. The game disconnected from the internet and the television started going into the reboot cycle constantly. I didn't think the two were related and just thought I was having some bad luck.

I tried everything. Replaced all of the HDMI cables, plugged everything into a different wall outlet in a different room, connected components directly to the television instead of running through the A/V receiver. I tried everything. I even called samsung at 4:30 in the morning to open up a ticket and have someone come fix the television.

After a couple of hours, I noticed that my home phone had no dial-tone. Then I asked my wife to check the television. No television service. I called Verizon and set up an appointment for them to come out the next day as well. I went to bed in a terrible mood.

The next morning when I woke up, all of my services had been restored and I set everything back up like it was. No problems at all. The television hasn't rebooted since.

This is obviously a little different because the network cable was never plugged into the television itself, but it was literally plugged into every single other component that was connected to the television.

I don't know how to explain it, other than saying that it had to have something to do with my internet service going crazy and it was somehow affecting the television through one of the other componenets. Crazy, I know....

oops, i just checked at samsung , there's an update released last 12/27/12, i will update the firmware via usb and check if TV still reboots...keep you posted guyzzzz

After Hours of Binging I found this thread.
I have excactly the same problem with constant rebooting. But I have one more information: I can reproduce the rebooting!
On my USB Harddisk I have a flv movie and the tv reboots at exactly the same moment in the movie all the time. This happens with all movies but for each movie at a different time.
I unplugged the hd and tested again. And the tv still reboots, but then it seems random. (and is not so frequent)

Got a series 8 smart tv - fine for several months and then the power cycling started a few weeks ago. I upgraded to version 1019 firmware today, but I am still getting the power cycling. I litterally disconnected EVERYTING... except the power... killed my LAN, PCs, Internet connection, DLNA devices, other Samsung products (phones, tablets etc.) but it still cycles, randomly... Any additional advice?

Hello everyone,

First of all thank you very much for this blog. It was very helpful in solving my problem.

One month ago I bought Samsung Smart TV 46" 8 Series (8000). I hocked it to the electric and of course to the wireless internet at home. I believe it is the first thing you would do if it is your first experience with a Smart TV :-) I also connect my Toshiba AltraBook using a HDMI cable.

Everything was working fine for about 2 weeks! then every time I watch the TV for some time and as soon as I use my remote control the TV starts its rebooting exercise. The only solution that help in finding a temporary resolution was unpluging the TV from the electric for a minute or so then plug it back. That gave me couple of minutes to play with the TV settings! or testing a new HDMI cable.

Whatever I do is still not helping! I disconnected all communication from the TV and still the same issue, just keep rebooting. Even though the TV was still under warranty, I did not like to take it to the service centre for fixing or replacing. Because that would require disassembling the TV from its base, put it back in its box, and drive 100 miles to the service centre :) - Yes, I have to do all that customer services in my country is not that great.

So I started my research on the internet to see if that is a common issue for Samsung Smart TVs! and yes it is. I tried everything I found on the net but with no success!

Last week, while I was searching for a solution, I found this blog and read about the electric issue mentioned by some of you. ! Some of you got his problem solved by hocking the TV directly to the wall and it works other just disconnect from the internet and it works. My TV was connected directly to the wall and I disconnected every communication possible! But my TV is just keep irritating me with its rebooting game.

The only thing was connected to the TV is the electric cable! (and the air). I have an old electric voltage regulator, I use to use with my PC. I hocked my TV to the regulator! connect to the internet, connect my laptop, and I reset my TV to refresh everything and download the latest software and smart hub!

Surprisingly, it works for 5 days with no problems at all!

I am not an expert, but I guess that the TV electronic parts are sensitive to the voltage changes! so using the regulator helped in my situation.

Last night, I needed the LAN cable so I unplug it from TV and use it on the laptop. suddenly the TV starts the reporting again!! I just turned off the electric for few minutes then turned it on again! everything back to normal and no rebooting!

Not sure if that might help others :) Like to see somebody try that and advise.

Thanks again for this blog and the updates from everyone.

Regards,
Abdul

Charter installed a new wireless router and updated the media box. The next day my tv keep surging on and off with the audio still going. I think it has something to do with the faster media box. It is like a power surge with our electricity, but only my tv is affected.