Usually you can gain access by sliding the right panel back after a slight pry from the connection with the front face panel. After a little nudge the side panel will slide back in it's track.
Are you able to boot up in Safe-Mode? It sounds like there could be a problem with the Registry, by the automatic shutdown. Windows has an automatic Reboot feature by default, designed to recover from sudden power failure.
Sometimes a newly downloaded program can cause a change to the Registry configuration in order for it to run and screws up everything until it's been removed from the system. If you can launch windows in safe mode, check the date that the program was installed Before removing it. After removing it be sure to use earlier dates in System Restore to recover the registry.
Who knows, it might work. Windows is a pain, ( pun intended) it's always something.
Good luck..................