title: Why am I getting Unexpected token '\u0000' when using npm install -g package
body: <p>This is probably a Windows specific issue but I haven't found any information when googling this issue.  I had been using ionic framework which relies on Cordova (or Phonegap).  However, the problem is not specific to any of these packages.  I see this error quite often.  So, the error is when I run a command such as the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>npm install -g cordova
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However, I could substitute various other packages and get the same error.  I'll paste the snippet (very brief) below of the error message.  What is strange is that I had an ionic project working in that directory earlier.  Then today it told me that ionic could not be found.  My hunch is that this is a different issue than the main issue I am describing here. </p>
  
  <p>I installed git bash so I do have a linux-like environment that I could try.  I would just select Git Bash for a bash window with various bash commands.  If there is an easier way to fix this for Windows users, please let me know.  I have seen courses on Pluralsight where the instructors seem to be happily using npm with no problems.  Also, when I use yeoman, I also at some point, in many cases, get the same error.<br>
  The error is </p>
  
  <pre><code>npm ERR! Failed to parse json
  npm Unexpected token '\u0000' at 1:1
  npm ERR!
  npm ERR! ^
  npm ERR! File: c:\Users\Bruce\AppData\Roaming\npm-cache\amdefine\1.0.0\package\package.json
  npm ERR! Failed to parse package.json data.
  npm ERR! package.json must be actual JSON, not just JavaScript.
  npm ERR!
  npm ERR! This is not a bug in npm
  npm ERR! Tell the package author to fix their package.json file. JSON.parse.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance for any help/advice,
  Bruce</p>