Having problems with Java when attempting to Unzip is a common error. It sounds as though you have gone through the initial steps of eliminating the problem. Try the tips suggested here to see if you can resolve the problem.

Why the Java Unzip Error Occurs

When the installation process for the application has encountered a glitch and failed to install properly, it often results in an error. A Java core file fails to install since they cannot unzip and the Java installation fails as a result. As you’ve already discovered, unless you fix the problem, you will not be able to use Java. Typically, what happens is the computer mistakenly thinks that a Java process is running and won’t continue with the installation. Go through each one of the suggested strategies until you discover the one that resolves the issue for you.

Use the Windows Task Manager to Stop the jqs.exe process

• 1. Open your Windows Task Manager. (Press the following keys all at once: CRTL, ALT, and DEL.)
• 2. Click on Processes.
• 3. Search for jqs.exe process.
• 4. Select jqs.exe process and click on end task.

Use the Windows Task Manager to Stop the jusched.exe process

If the Java update is at fault here, then you can use these steps to fix it. If Java attempted an update and it became stuck, it would lead to a problem unzipping Java files. Just follow these simple steps if you think this could be the issue.

• 1. Open the Windows Task Manager by pressing these keys on the keyboard all at one time: CRTL, ALT, and DEL.
• 2. At the top of the “Task Manager” box and select “Processes.”
• 3. Search for jusched.exe. Select jusched.exe and select end task.

Use the Windows Command Prompt to Stop the jqs.exe process

• 1. Navigate to “Start” in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and click on it.
• 2. Select “Run” from the options.
• 3. Type in the following command ‘cmd’ in the open box that appears to generate the Command Prompt Window. You only need to type the letters into the box.
• 4. Type the following 5-word phrase: net stop “Java Quick Starter” into the open box.
• 5. Select “Enter.”
• 6. You should now see this message “The Java Quick Starter service was stopped successfully.” It should appear beneath the words: “C:\Documents and Settings\user>net stop “Java Quick Starter.”
• 7. Visit Java’s website and download the latest version of Java. It should install correctly this time around.

I know that misery doesn’t really love company, but you’re not alone. Many people are having issues with Sims3, and installation errors are a common problem. You were right in checking the system requirements - much of the time this is the reason for installation problems. As long as you are sure that you meet the requirements, I have a few other ideas that might ease your Sims3 headache.

Selecting the Right Drive

You gave me a big clue when you said that it is showing 0kb, but that there is no way that your drive is full. Did you check the drive where the game was attempting to install? Could you be selecting the wrong destination folder for the install? Since you are using the disc, if you try to install to the current directory and the CD ROM drive is selected, there is no more room on the CD, so you will get the 0kb message on your screen. If you think this might be the case, select a directory on your hard drive for the game to install to and try it again.

Run from My Computer

If it is getting installed but is not running, you can try going to My Computer, find the game and double click on it. Find the icon that says Sims3 setup and double click on it.

Mac Issues

You don’t say whether you are using a Mac or a PC - if you’re using a MAC, then this may be your problem in a nutshell. If you have a Mac, you might need to use Boot Camp to install Windows XP and then install the Windows XP version of the game.

Bad Disc

Because you are installing Sims3 from a disc, it’s always possible that the disc itself is the issue, even if you can see no visible damage on the surface.  If you’ve tried absolutely everything else to get it to install and you are still having no luck, take the disc back to where you bought it and get it exchanged. Many stores have sticky issues with returning discs, but if you emphasize that it is defective, any reputable retailer will at least give you a replacement copy.  Since you purchased an actual copy of Sims3, you can use EA Support for Sims3 - they have forums where you can ask your specific question if this information hasn’t solved your problem. Good luck and happy gaming.

Sims 3 for Mac Installation Errors

We’ve seen so many Mac users with installation errors when trying to install The Sims 3. In researching this error, I’m sorry to say that I found nothing. So, we’re left grasping for ideas. Kat De Long recently discussed a few of the more common Sims3 installation errors with one solution that might work for you. If you haven’t tried installing the Sims3 from the desktop, it might be worth trying.

In addition, you might try opening the $INSTALLVOLUME/Support/Readme/en/readme.txt file manually from the disc. Since it’s a text file, it should open using a standard text editor. Does the file open? Is it missing? Do you get a “cannot open file” error? If it opens and is readable, then the copying of the disc to the desktop might work. If it’s unreadable or missing, then I’d lean toward thinking that the disc itself is faulty.

Sims3 Replacement Disc

If copying the files from the disk to the desktop and launching the installation from there fails, then it’s likely that the $INSTALLVOLUME readme file really is damaged. Files can become corrupt and faulty discs are not unheard of. Electronic Arts offers a 90 day warranty period where they will replace the disc upon receipt of the disc or its manual and proof of purchase. Since you recently purchased the program, I’d ask for a replacement disc to rule out the possibility of a faulty CD.

You can mail your items to:

Electronic Arts Warranty Department
9001 N I-35 Suite 110
Austin, TX 78753

Before you do so, go to EA’s Warranty Information Web page and read all instructions carefully. A downloadable packing slip is also available on the site for you to fill in relevant details.

Other Sources of SIMS3 Help

I did find a nice user’s forum at GamingNewsLink.com where users are posting their SIMS3 errors and helping each other out. You might try exploring the SIMS 3 Errors thread and posting your $INSTALLVOLUME error there as well.

Archive Format Not Recognized Acer Aspire

The error message that you are getting is your operating system letting you know that it isn’t able to read or process the files that you are trying to install.

Acer Aspire One with Linpus Linux Lite

The Acer Aspire One mini laptops, also called netbooks, come in a couple different models where operating systems are concerned. Regardless of where your computer is from - if your Acer Aspire Mini model name starts with an L or ends with an A then another letter indicating the color, then it has been built stock with a version of the Linux operating system installed. The Linpus Linux Lite is a smaller operating system with a streamlined user interface and is preprogrammed with the Firefox web browser. This program is well suited for a mini computer, but might not satisfy computer users who are accustomed to a more sophisticated program.

Acer Aspire One with XP

If your Acer Aspire model name ends in an X or a B then another letter describing the color, then it is factory installed with Windows XP Home Edition - up to date with Service Pack 3. This laptop can be installed with Vista or beta versions of Windows 7 - but some features may suffer.

.EXE Files and Linux

So - assuming that your Acer is equipped with Linpus Linux Lite - the error message means that your operating system isn’t able to comprehend .exe files, since Linux doesn’t use them. If you want to install Windows - the first thing to deal with is the absence of the optical drive. Netbooks are so compact that they don’t include a disk drive so you can either use an external CD/DVD player connected through the USB or create a bootable flash drive complete with a multiboot tool - a web search will lead you to several options.

Install Windows

You might also need to change the boot order to ask the computer to boot from the USB drive, then install Windows. Be sure to delete both existing partitions on the computer to completely remove Linux and create a new FAT32 partition. When you’re finished, do a web search for the Windows XP Aspire One hardware drivers to make the hardware and software compatible. Good luck!

Computer Monitor Interference

The first thing that comes to mind is interference. Computer monitors are sensitive to interference from other devices, most notably cell phones, speakers, and cords. For example, if you have your cell phone to close to the screen, the entire screen will shake when the phone is in use. Other common pieces of equipment that can interfere are wireless hubs, telephones, and even baby monitors. Even lights can interfere with monitors!

Where you place the monitor can increase or decrease the interference. Before troubleshooting your computer, take a good look at all the gadgets nearby (and turn off the lights to see if the lights are interfereing). Try placing your computer speakers further away from the monitor and remove any items that could be interfering with the monitor to alternate locations.

If your computer and its monitor are plugged into an overloaded socket or share a power strip with other electronics, unplug other items until you have just your computer and monitor plugged in. You may need to rearrange your office if your monitor behaves itself once other devices are unplugged.

Computer Refresh Rates

Another common cause of computer monitor shaking is an incorrect screen refresh rate. Try increasing or decreasing the monitor’s refresh rate to see if this solves the problem. It may take a bit of trial and error to find a setting that doesn’t flicker or shake.

To do this, right-click a blank area of the Windows Desktop. Choose Personalize (Windows Vista) or Display Properties (Windows XP). Now, click Advanced Settings and find the Monitor tab. Under Monitor Settings, you will see a dropdown box for the “screen refresh rate.” Select a different setting and see if that improves it. Again, you may need to experiment to find the best setting for your monitor and its resolution. In general, higher settings are easier on the eyes.   

Monitor Settings

If your computer monitor has a degauss setting, try degaussing the monitor. If moving gadgets and changing the refresh rates didn’t help, this might. In addition, something could be wrong with the monitor, so try hooking the monitor up to a friend’s computer to rule this out. If the monitor shakes on your friend’s computer, then something is wrong with it. It could be the cord, the degauss circuit, the power supply, or other hardware. In this case, either repair or replace the monitor.

Computer terminology is filled with acronyms ranging from abbreviations such as CC and URL to an entire vernacular used in chats and text messages such as LOL and BTW. When you know the meaning behind these acronyms, they make sense and often become part of your own vocabulary. When you don’t know what they mean, then, naturally, they don’t make sense. Fortunately, other computer users are happy to explain.  

What does “CC” stand for?

The abbreviation, CC, stands for “carbon copy” which has its roots in the days of typewriters. Back then, if a memo, letter, report, or other form of correspondence needed to be given to more than one person, a sheet of carbon paper was inserted between two (or more) sheets of paper prior to typing. The typed copy was the original and the copy beneath the carbon paper was the carbon copy.

Now, e-mail is used to send messages to one or more recipients. Primary recipients are listed in the “To” field while those who are secondary are listed in the “CC” field. For example, if you’re sending out a proposal to a client, the client is the primary recipient so his address would go in the “To” field. However, what if your boss needs to be in the loop? You don’t necessarily need your boss to respond to the message, but you do want him to see that you have sent the proposal. In this case, entering your boss’s e-mail address in the “CC” field is appropriate. Your boss will receive a copy of the e-mailed proposal and your original recipient will be aware that your boss also has this information.

What does “BCC” stand for?

To take this concept one step further, another field, BCC, is also available in most e-mail programs. This may not be displayed by default. To turn it on in Windows Live Mail, start a new message and click the View menu item. Place a check mark next to CC and BCC. BCC stands for “blind carbon copy.” When you enter an e-mail address in the BCC field, the BCC’d recipient will receive a carbon copy of the e-mail message, but no one but you and that individual will know about it.

Why would you use BCC? You might not want someone to be aware of the other people viewing the message. For example, perhaps your boss wants to be aware of all proposals being sent out but doesn’t want customers to bypass his sales reps and come to him directly to negotiate.

Another good use for BCC is when sending messages to unrelated recipients. This provides privacy between recipients and keeps their e-mail addresses from being forwarded down the chain where spammers may harvest them. For example, if you send a joke e-mail to your friends and then they forward it to their friends who forward it on, the e-mail addresses that you entered are now being distributed far and wide. Had you used the BCC field, these addresses would not be revealed.

What does “URL” stand for?

While CC and BCC are e-mail terms, URL is a Web term. In fact, it is a Web address. URL stands for “uniform resource locator.” http://www.filetonic.com/ is the URL to the Filetonic Web site and http://filetonic.com/library.php is the URL to Filetonic’s extensive collection of EXE, DLL, and file extension libraries.

WinFLP or Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PC’s is available to those individuals running a genuine Microsoft Windows OS. Using a bootable USB to transfer the OS will make the installation take less time when transferring it to your netbook. If possible, use a new USB flash drive for the best results. You can use special software to create your bootable USB flash drive or you can complete the task on your own. I’ve given you the information that you need to do both. The choice is yours.

Software to Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive: BootIt- Lexar USB Flip the Removable Media Bit Tool

BootIt- Lexar USB Flip the Removable Media Bit Tool is a freeware application that you can use at your own risk. It comes without guarantees and I only offer it as an option that I have read about. This particular utility can be used to create a bootable USB flash drive. BootIt is designed to allow users to create a USB drive that acts like a fixed disk. Although this particular software was originally designed to turn Lexar-based flash drives into bootable ones, many individuals have expressed the ability to use it with other brands.

How to Create a Bootable USB

1. Insert the USB stick in the appropriate slot. Make sure that your computer recognizes it. Make note of the letter used to designate the location of the USB flash drive.
2. Open up a “Command Prompt.” (Start>Run>Command)
3. Type “SYS U” where U is the letter of the USB drive location.
4. This command should transfer the files needed to boot from your USB flash drive. These files include IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, and command.com.

How to Configure the USB Port as Bootable

Depending on your BIOS, you may or may not be able to configure the USB port as bootable. In general, if you have a newer machine, you will be able to do so. Typically, you can press the “F10″ key when booting up the computer in order to enter the BIOS section that portrays the options for boot up. Simply select the “USB Storage Stick” Option.

Check the Laptop Screen and Case for Wear

A thin, colored line on your laptop screen could really be caused by a number of things. For starters, the process of opening and closing the lid of your laptop can create wear and tear for your monitor screen. If you are pulling up on the case, it might be stressing the screen underneath. Start by checking out the screen and case connections manually. Does it get any better or worse if you gently bend the screen and case? If so, you might be able to repair it by tightening the screen casing and being a little more gentle when you open it. You will likely need to take it in to a technician unless you can mend the seams and the connection yourself. Or, if the problem is a cracked ribbon or solder joint, you will definitely need to have it repaired professionally.

Remove and Reinstall your Video Card Drivers

It is also possible that your video or graphics card needs either driver updates or replacement. You can test this theory by uninstalling and then reinstalling your drivers. If this doesn’t help, then you might need a new card, but a tech will be able to tell you for sure.

1. Click Start, then Control Panel
2. Choose System, then Hardware, then Device Manager
3. Scroll through and look for your video or graphics card
4. If there are any yellow or red !s or ?s, then there are likely driver issues
5. If you are using the cards that came stock with your computer, you can click remove drivers, then reboot the computer and Windows should automatically re-install the drivers
6. You can then repeat the steps back to Device Manager to check the status and click Update to get the latest drivers for your card

If you are still having the same issues, you will likely need to take it in to a shop. If you want to try, you can use your laptop user manual to find and remove and reseat the video card cables to see if this helps, but opening your computer’s case will likely nullify the warranty, so be careful. Depending on the age and use of your computer, it is likely a screen or LCD issue that a repair could solve. Good luck!

Set the Program Windows to Maximize

The problem might be that you are maximizing a window that has been inadvertently resized, so that you are actually able to maximize it, but that the window has been altered to a smaller total size. To make sure that the window is actually maximized, try these steps for Internet Explorer to see if the window will get any bigger.

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Right click the Internet Explorer icon on the taskbar
3. Choose Properties
4. Choose the Shortcut tab
5. Choose Run
6. Choose Maximized
7. Click Apply

Manually Resize your Windows

In case the windows are already set at maximum but aren’t appearing that way, you can try this trick to resize them manually.

1. Open a window in Internet Explorer
2. Click your mouse on the very bottom right corner of the screen where there are little corner, arrow-ish lines
3. Use your mouse to drag this part of the window - which will resize it
4. Drag it to the size you want
5. Now open another Internet Explorer window over top
6. Follow the same directions to drag it to full size
7. Click back on the first window, then click ALT + F4 to close
8. Click the second window, then ALT + F4 to close
9. Open a new Internet Explorer window and it should open at full size

Internet Explorer Short Cuts to Minimize and Maximize

Usually, the Internet Explorer window has a series of little boxes in the top right corner. Choosing the one that looks like a little box and a larger box should switch between minimum and maximum. You might also be able to switch in and out of full screen by pressing the F11 key. Most of the time a combination of dragging the window to resize it manually and using the Windows short cuts to make sure the program is opening windows in full size will take care of the problem. Another possibility is that the zoom adjustment is off. Look in the lower right corner of the screen and adjust your zoom to 100% or less.

If this doesn’t do it and you need more assistance, write us again and let us know what you’ve tried and what software program you are using so we can be more specific with the troubleshooting. Good luck!

I’m going to offer some general comments to help you solve this problem since I don’t know exactly which website you are dealing with. I’ll also offer a few ideas in case she does something similar to this again. Many kids don’t understand the implications of what they post online or the seriousness of posting inaccurate information.

Deleting Web Accounts

The easiest way to delete the account is to have your niece delete the account. This can be done through her account settings. If she refuses to do so, then you can contact the moderator/webmaster for the website and request that they delete the account since it contains inaccurate information. If she is underage, this strategy might work.

However, you might be required to prove the inaccuracy of the statements, your relationship to your niece, or provide parental or guardianship permission. Typically, verification must be made and once it is, the host site will delete the account. In general, a great many websites require their members to indicate their age status, but this alone does not prevent minors from signing up. Once their underage status is discovered and proven, it takes short work for the host site to delete the account.

On the other hand, if your niece has already reached adult status, you might need to file a harassment charge with the website in order to get them to take the posting down. This will not reflect well on your niece and will become part of her online persona. I suggest trying to reason with her and explain that she could face legal trouble if she continues to post false information.

Deleting Comments

In some cases, deleting comments is an easy enough task. For example, if your niece posted this information in a comment on one of your blogs, all you would need to do is sign into your blog and edit the comment in order to delete it. If your niece is posting invalid comments to your webpage, you should be able to delete them on your own or to block her as a user on your page.

Another example would be if she posted on another person’s Web site. The best way to determine this is with her cooperation. If she does not want to do log in and edit her comment, but will allow you to do so, obtain the username and password for your niece, log in, and look around the website for information on posting/deleting comments. In some cases, the website will contain an icon or word that is an active link for deleting the comment.

Unfortunately, some websites do not offer this easy road to deleting comments and the task becomes much more of a problem. When this is the case, the best strategy to take is to contact the owner of the website with the exact details of the situation. Request that the information be deleted since it is inaccurate.