Ok enough Lurking here you go the Old salt.. Back a few years.

Care has some great advice there. But for the less computer literate people to edit the resource.cfg file you need to open it with notpad. To do this when in notpad select File, Open, then change the Files of type to all. then go to where you downloaded your copy of resource.cfg. This will let you do what was suggested.

are you using a tobisha computer? they have a DVD player that been giving people problems installing. if so go to The sims 3 page Hit the Help button at tope right of screen when it comes up Select (What steps can I take to attempt to correct a 'Disc Authorization Error'? ) This has steps to try.
Other then that I can think of only 2 other things to try. they are try installing in safe and or administrator mode.

yes the select the sim your needing to find this info out. then on the right side of your menus select the 1st tab. the area that has all your sims characteristics there is a button on it that looks like a family tree. hit it and you'll get the sims tree.

First to start in safe mode when starting you will get to the Windows Loading Screen(the one with the bar at the bottom) Hit F8.(soon as the bar shows) Then select start in safe mode. 2nd. two others were haveing install problems that we found to be not enough hard drive space an the install would stop somewhere after 50%. So I suggest checking disk space to make certain you have enough room.

1. how can sims get married-they have 3 children and there relationship is high but i dont know how to make them get married

Steady Engagement and Marrage all fall under the Romance selections and you realy have to get um hot and bothered.

2. do you get promoted in ur job if you accept opportunities??

Some of them the reward is a promotion

3. when do concerts run at the llama stadium or whatever

You have to go to map mode and check every so often for one. Or check your paper sometimes has one listed.

Woot wtg SimGirl20! Didn't think to ask if you was on dial-up but glad your running now!

Cool was worried there only thing I have seen with the CAS crashes was intalling a sim or house that had an item you dont have yet. Thats why I only use the downloader for that. It wont install sim3packs if you don't have the item.

Gave has to be on your Lot. Like I know of 2 lots so far with graves. they Are Goth's and Agnus Crumplebottoms homes. you actualy have to play those to do this. Or have a sim die on your lot.

just thought of the one item that always gets me. Have you read the red print if any shows up. It normal shows at the top of the form. Like it the password is less then 8 characters...

Have yo gotten a sim from MTS2/3? if so remove it. There are some over there that are posting sims with Items bought in the store. And if you don't have that item it causes a crash...

I know what you mean I did mine like 4 times and still don't know what i did that caused it to work. On that Reg. thing But I just thought of something
You might be able to do it from alt. ea reg site i have looked at two other locations but its not listed.Wait the EA Downloads Manager has a Activation spot on it. First you must use you EA Account login on its last tab once logged in go to the activation tab. type in your code. see what happens there....

Question have you installed the EA Download manager? it has to be running for the sims 3 game launcher to load.

I read that a certain DVD drive is causing problems with installing. they have information on it at the sims 3 site hit the Help link at top right of screen.

I beleave that has to do with disk emulators on some DVD setups there is more information on that at the sims 3 in the help area