SSL peer shut down incorrectly

In trying to run Minecraft, we get the error listed below (minecraft error.jpg). Visiting multiple forums lead us to using an alternate link to run Minecraft using an older version of Java. In doing so, we now get the following error:

Bootstrap (v5)
Current time is Nov 30, 2016 8:14:11 PM
System.getProperty('os.name') == 'Windows 8'
System.getProperty('os.version') == '6.2'
System.getProperty('os.arch') == 'amd64'
System.getProperty('java.version') == '1.6.0_45'
System.getProperty('java.vendor') == 'Sun Microsystems Inc.'
System.getProperty('sun.arch.data.model') == '64'

Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 2/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 3/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 4/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 5/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 6/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 7/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 8/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 9/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Downloading: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/launcher/launcher.pack.lzma (try 10/10)
Exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: sun.security.validator.ValidatorException: PKIX path building failed: sun.security.provider.certpath.SunCertPathBuilderException: unable to find valid certification path to requested target
Recognized exception: the likely cause is a set of broken/missing root-certificates. Check your java install and perhaps reinstall it.
Unable to download remote file. Check your internet connection/proxy settings.