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Existing Content
New Content
Changelog
Existing Content
This website features content from the original Ardent Tool by Louis Ohland.
In addition, it includes material from many other PS/2 and MCA-oriented websites. Namely:
Credit for the original content goes to the respective authors listed above.
Aside from the above sources, many other pages were merged to the MAD Edition
(see changelog). The name of the original author should always be noted either
on the page itself or next to the link that leads to the particular page.
If you are one of the authors and you can't find your name anywhere, want to
request some edits or content removal, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Most of the Email links are still pointed to the respective authors, as I
think it's the right thing to do. Since it was them who collected or created the
content. If you have a question specifically concerning this version of the
website, please contact me directly.
Included in this version are some additional documents - such as technical
references, brochures, patents, articles from various computer magazines, etc.
Authors of these materials are either named explicitly on the page from where
they can be accessed and/or are named directly in the material itself.
New Content
The MAD Edition also features a significant amount of new content created by
me - Tomáš Slavotínek. This includes technical explanations, tutorials, various
text notes, board outlines (TS signature), schematics and other illustrations,
pinouts, reverse-engineering and measurement results, hardware modifications,
and more.
Many of the pre-existing pages were modified, merged, cleaned up, etc. These
changes include complete overhauls, improved and more consistent formatting,
fixed links, and other adjustments. Some of the illustrations, tables, and other
content were completely reworked. The main index page has been redesigned from
a scratch and should be much easier to navigate now.
Changelog
Considering the scale of the project, it would be nearly impossible and of
little value to mention every single tiny change here. However, for those
interested, the most important additions and modifications are listed down
below.
10 Apr 2021 – 17 Apr 2021
- Added 7552 Architecture
- 7552 Index - added announcement letter files (thanks Louis!)
- 7568 Common Devices - cleaned up, reorganized
- 70/80 DLC2 Upgrade - cleaned up, added info about the BL utility files
- ThinkPad 700 & 720 - added zipped refdisk/diags images, reorganized
- 3151 ASCII Display Station - reworked, added new info & fixed CONSOLE.COM
- Structural changes (redirects added to keep the existing links alive)
- Corrected all links that were referencing the local storage or the old Ardent Tool URLs
- Fixed many other broken links and recovered several missing files
- Minor style and layout changes
06 Apr 2021
04 Apr 2021
01 Apr 2021 – 03 Apr 2021
28 Mar 2021 – 29 Mar 2021
- Minor style and layout changes to improve readability and design consistency.
- Fixed a few broken links
21 Mar 2021
08 Mar 2021 – 17 Mar 2021
- Disk Collection - added Model 90 XP and 95 XP refdisks v1.02 (thanks Louis!)
- Complex Sub-Model Matrix - corrected submodel IDs for the T1 Upg. 66 complex
- Radius SVGA Multiview - added ROM image (thanks Lorenzo!)
- Added a few more Patents
- Removed some copyright/user agreement protected content (external links available)
- Type 4 Complex - added schematic of the address mux circuit, other minor tweaks
- Processor Complex Pinout - added multiplexed signals
- 486SLC2 CPU Upgrade
- Added outline and info about the SLC2 upgrade for Model 50Z
- Added photos of the IBM [1] and Kingston [2] SLC2 upgrades for Model 50Z
- Added Kingston manual for the various SLC2 upgrades
- Other minor changes (incl. style tweaks)
[1] Photos from Vintage Computing Wiki user "Netfreak" (link)
[2] Photos provided by Alexander Paterakis
24 Feb 2021 – 05 Mar 2021
[1] BIOS images provided by David Beem
[2] Scanned by David Beem, OCR'd by Tomáš Slavotínek.
[3] Photo from ebay seller "predator_666" (edited)
21 Feb 2021
- Implemented Contact/Feedback Form. Replaced all relevant "mailto" links.
- Removed all other "mailto" links (except for the archived pages - PS/2 FAQs etc.).
- Cleaned up and reorganized many RS/6000 pages, removed or merged duplicates.
- PS/2 Documentation - OCR'd the 1991 "BIOS Interface Technical Reference" PDFs.
10 Feb 2021 – 16 Feb 2021
- Refactored all "native" Ardent Tool pages (~1400!)
- The header & footer sections are now generated based on the page metadata.
- Website title and top-level navigation menu are now available from all pages.
- All pages now share the same stylesheets and the same general structure.
- Basic support for mobile devices and legacy browsers (WIP).
- Cleaned up many more pages, fixed some broken links and missing files.
- Adapter Picture Collection - reworked the JS code, removed the frame-based version
- Model 90 Power - added Rev. "D" PSU info and photos (thanks Louis!) [1]
- Added Comparing IBM's Micro Channel and Apple's NuBus [2]
- DMQS Reader - added DMQSREAD sources [3], reworked the page
- RS/6000 Documents - added PDF docs from bitsavers, cleaned up the page
- Added MCA Transfer Procedures -
Basic,
Streaming &
DMA Transfer [2]
- Added MCA Interrupt Procedures [2]
- Added local copy of 25 Years of the Model M [4]
- Added hierarchical navigation menu and feedback link (all pages).
- Moved PS/55 Overclocking to a separate page
- 9585 K/N Planar - corrected the ref/diag disk links (thanks David!)
- Disk Collection
- Fixed 9553 diag. disk being labeled as a refdisk
- Added 9553 refdisk image
- Added 8533 refdisk images (12 and 16 MHz)
- Added 9535/9540 starter disk image
- Updated the page to use the DD Mmm YYYY date format
- Fixed a few typos, other minor changes
- Updated ref/diag disk section of all PS/2 pages. Added links to zipped images.
- XGA Files - cleaned up, added SC update info (from the MC386 page)
[1] Photos from ebay seller "batessurplus" (edited)
[2] Article HTMLized by Louis Ohland, edited by Tomáš Slavotínek.
[3] Sources written and provided by Peter Wendt.
[4] Content by Chris McDonough. Recovered via archive.org
01 Feb 2021 – 06 Feb 2021
[1] ROM dump by Lorenzo Mollicone
22 Jan 2021 – 29 Jan 2021
[1] ROM dumps by David Beem
[2] Photo from ebay seller "sold-sold-sold!" (edited)
[3] Content created by William Walsh, modified by Tomáš Slavotínek
[4] Content by Louis Ohland, modified by Tomáš Slavotínek
[5] Scans by Tatsuo Sunagawa (Sandy)
06 Jan 2021 – 20 Jan 2021
- System Information Tool (SIT)
- 85/95 & 3511 PSU - added Double Deck Complex Too Tall!, other minor changes
- 95A PSU Exposed - minor changes
- System Programs - added H09805, other minor changes (from Louis), cleanup
- IBM SCSI Microcode - merged in David's changes (adds 39G3313 & 92F1211)
- PS/2 Documentation - added Catalog of Micro Channel Adapter Cards [2]
- PS/55 pages - fixed a few broken links, other minor changes
- PS/55 5530 - added link to a PS/55 Z blog post with many photos
- Planar IDs - added PS/55 Model 5560-N, 5551-W/W1 & PC 720
- External Links - periodic update, added link to the CSIPH Facebook Group
- Type 2 Complex - added complex origins blurb
- Ahead VGA Enhancer Z - cleaned up
- Added VGA Adapter/A - work in progress [3][4]
- Data Migration Facility - binaries recovered, cleaned up [3]
- PS/55 Complexes - new hi-res photos [5], updated outlines & part IDs
- MCA Pinouts - updated the "Streaming Data Rates" table with info from IBM TDB
- F/W Streaming RAID - fixed a few broken links (thx Nikolai & Lorenzo), cleanup
- Complex Sub-Model Matrix - added submodel IDs for the T0- complex
- IBM SCSI - External Connectors & Cables - reworked, added sections
- Reply Video Adapter
- Merged with Sandy's content, completely reworked
- Updated outline
- Added new hi-res photos [6]
- Added BIOS image [6]
- 1MB Short SVGA
- Updated outline
- Added new photo [7]
- Added BIOS image [8]
- Added a separate page for Japanese SVGA Adapter
- Based on Sandy's content, completely reworked, fixed links
- New outline [6]
- Added hi-res photos [5]
- Added ADF files
- Added GD542x SVGA Adapters
- Based on content by Sandy and Peter Wendt, reworked
- Added datasheets
- Added GD542x IREF Circuit Comparison - based on Sandy's content
- Type 1 Complex - added alternative hi-res scans of the "K" complex [6]
- Added the rest of the PowerStacker 5x86 Upgrade pages
- Added local copy of ATI Visual Identification & BIOS Part Number List
- Moved the Interposer pages from the PS/55 area to the CPU section
- 486 CPUID, S-spec & Steppings - merged in David's changes, other minor tweaks
- IBM SCSI Microcode - merged in David's changes (19 Jan 2021)
- Model L40 SX - added photos of the 95F4879 planar [8]
- Fixed a bunch of links, recovered some missing resources & other minor changes
[1] Information extracted and patching done by Tomáš Slavotínek
[2] Scanned by Derek Newland (original link)
[3] Content by Louis Ohland, modified by Tomáš Slavotínek
[4] Photos from ebay seller "elizabethole-0" (edited)
[5] Photos from Tatsuo Sunagawa (Sandy)
[6] Scans/photos/outlines/ROM dumps by Tomáš Slavotínek
[7] Photo by Lorenzo Mollicone
[8] Photos and ROM dumps by David Beem
28 Dec 2020 – 02 Jan 2021
[1] Photo from ebay seller "pro-data" (edited)
[2] Scans by Tomáš Slavotínek
[3] Image presented by Dave from EEVBlog, x-rayed by CPU Galaxy
[4] Outline created by William R. Walsh, modified by Tomáš Slavotínek
14 Dec 2020 – 24 Dec 2020
[1] Articles HTMLized by Louis Ohland, edited by Tomáš Slavotínek.
[2] Photos and BIOS images provided by David Beem
[3] Scans by Tomáš Slavotínek
[4] Photo by Louis Ohland
09 Dec 2020
25 Nov 2020 – 09 Dec 2020
- Moved 128-pin Cache Modules to a separate page, reworked, added info & scans
- Moved Hardware Reset Button mod to a separate page, expanded, added photos
- Added a proper page for PC730/750, reworked, fixed links
- Reworked, cleaned up and reorganized most IBM SCSI pages
- Japanese SCSI /A - reworked, added adapter photos [1]
- Models 55 SX/SL - added BIOS images & and new riser photos [1], partial cleanup
- Procom 55 SX Riser - added riser photos [1], cleanup
- Model 65 SX - added planar photos & and BIOS images [1], WIP, mostly empty
- Lacuna
- Planar IDs - minor corrections
- Pentium Interposers - technical details about the PL-ProMMX Plus 4.0 interposer
- IBM ASICs - minor update
- Japanese Display Adapters
- Moved Model 5520 to a separate page
- PS/55 pages - minor structural changes for the sake of consistency
- Model L40 SX - added BIOS images [1], reworked
- Localized L40SX Hard Disk Removal and Installation by William R. Walsh
- M-ACPA, AdLib, Audiovation, ChipChat & SoundPiper - reworked/cleaned up
- Sound Blaster MCV / Pro MCV - added SB MCV manuals [5], some more cleaning
- IBM Memory Expansion
- Utilities & Drivers - added SIT (discovered by David Beem), reworked, added index
- External Links & Link Archive - periodic update
- Updated Online INF Book Reader to version 0.8a.
(Changelog)
- Many other minor changes across the site
[1] Photos and BIOS images provided by David Beem
[2] Photos from ebay seller "ctesales" (edited)
[3] Photo from Wikimedia user "Darklanlan"
[4] Photos from Tatsuo Sunagawa (Sandy)
[5] Documentation provided by Tatsuo Sunagawa (Sandy), scanned by Tomáš Slavotínek.
01 Oct 2020 – 21 Oct 2020
- Model 90 Planar - reworked, added info about early 8590 planar, added planar photos
- Model 90 Power - reworked, added PSU info and photos, photos can be enlarged now
- Model 90 Common Devices - reworked, added Base Fan info and photos
- Disk Collection - added machine/planar links, reorganized some items
- Fixed ~70 ADF files that had a spurious "<html>" tag inserted at the beginning.
- Added ServerGuide 2.21 Books (thanks Sandy)
- Added a few Patents that got left behind after one of the previous updates.
- Pentium & 486 Interposers/Upgrades - added PowerLeap info, manuals, and software
- Updated Online INF Book Reader to version 0.8.
(Changelog)
- INF Books, BOO Books & Patents - improved list readability, unified style
- PS/55 Files - another cleanup, unified style
- Kingston & Reply Files - cleanup, unified style
- Japanese Display Adapters - additional info from Sandy, minor tweaks
- PC720 - reworked, fixed file links
- Sound Blaster MCV / Pro MCV - added some files, reorganized and cleaned up
- A few more pages cleaned up. Some other minor changes.
20 Sep 2020 – 25 Sep 2020
- Added all missing PS/55 Files. Files provided by Sandy. Thanks! Page cleanup.
- Added Model 30 index page and Common Devices page
- Added Model 30 and Models 35/40 planar pages. Mostly empty currently.
- Model 25 - added hi-res planar (T1 & T2) and riser photos [1]
- Model 30 - added hi-res planar (US & Greenock) and riser photos [1]
- Models 35/40 - added hi-res planar and riser photos [1]
- Model 25 SX - added hi-res planar (L & H) photos [1]
- 486 Interposers and Upgrades - added link to Jan Steunebrink's AMD 5x86 page.
All relevant pages now link to this Upgrade page. Thanks for the heads up, Tim.
- Added a few more Patents. Mostly posted by Louis. Thanks!
Reformatted the table and added links back to Google Patents.
- Fixed a bunch of typos and other errors across the website.
- Switched the index pages and this changelog to the DD Mmm YYYY date format.
[1] Photos provided by David Beem. Thank You!
04 Sep 2020 – 08 Sep 2020
- Merge of the latest Louis' changes; snapshot taken 4 Sep 2020
- Reworked the SCSI Errors page
- POS Operation - tweaked formatting, some minor info corrections
- Many other minor changes across the site
01 Sep 2020
07 Aug 2020 – 27 Aug 2020
- Reworked the PS/2 Family page and many other index/sub-index pages
- Added sub-index for PS/2 Models 60, 65 SX and 80
- Moved 8560, 8565 SX and 8580 - Common Devices to a separate page, reworked
- Moved 8550 and 8570 - Common Devices to a separate page, reworked
- Moved Battery/Speaker Assembly to a separate page, reworked, added FRU info
- Changed "8580 Power" to 8560, 8565 SX and 8580 - Power Supply, reworked, new pinout/voltages graphics and tables
- Corrected the Battery/Speaker Connector Pinouts
- Corrected Planar ID and Planar ADF Info for Model 50Z
- Merged 85/95/3511 Common Devices and the old "Installing Memory" page, cleanup
- Opening/Closing the Case, Ventilation & U-bolt - relocated, cleanup
- Multistation - reworked the Options #1, #2 and some other pages
- About ADF Files - cleaned up and slightly reworked the other ADF pages
- Model M Modification, Adapter Box & Keyboard Cable - cleaned up, fixed images
- Disk Collection - added machine type info, reorganized some items
- PS/55 Complexes - new outlines, some rewrites
- Removed duplicate copies of Al Savage's pages
- Many other minor changes related to the updates listed above
31 Jul 2020 – 02 Aug 2020
[1] Photos provided by Wolfgang Gehl. Thank You!
07 Jul 2020 – 10 Jul 2020
16 Jun 2020 – 17 Jun 2020
11 Jun 2020 – 14 Jun 2020
15 May 2020 – 16 May 2020
09 May 2020 – 11 May 2020
05 May 2020 – 06 May 2020
01 May 2020 – 02 May 2020
17 Apr 2020 – 24 Apr 2020
14 Apr 2020
- Bermuda & Lacuna - overhaul, part ID, links & datasheets
- 35, 40, 56, 57, 76, 77 - removed duplicate info (planar replacing, riser types...)
- 35, 40, 56, 57, 76, 77 - Common Parts - overhaul
- Added 35, 40, 56, 57, 76, 77 - Power Supply - resolves some more redundancy
- 9576 & 9577 - overhaul
- Merged T4 "P" and T4 "Q" pages to Type 4 "P" / "Q" - updated FRUs, FCC IDs,
FDIV info, additional info about PCB layouts, got rid of some redundancy
- Type 4 "Y" - additional FCC IDs, FDIV info
- Complex ID & Type 4 Index - updated to reflect above changes
- 85/95 & 3511 PSU - overhaul, separated Side Cover Fan & 95A PSU Exposed
- Some other minor changes across the board
07 Apr 2020 – 09 Apr 2020
04 Apr 2020 – 05 Apr 2020
02 Apr 2020 – 03 Apr 2020
27 Mar 2020 – 28 Mar 2020
- Merge of the latest Louis' changes; snapshot taken 26 Mar 2020
- A minor index page update, some sub-index pages updated as well
- IBM HD Pinouts - uses global pinout styles now
- 9585 "X" Planar, 9585 "K"/"N" Planar - cleanup, links, datasheets, etc.
- Some other minor changes
24 Mar 2020 – 26 Mar 2020
14 Mar 2020
22 Feb 2020
- Updated Online INF Book Reader to version 0.3a. Added "About" page.
- T4 "N" and "Y" - updated outlines
- Additional info about T4 Flash ROM + programming voltages
- T4 pages - corrected some errors + clean-up
- Added more PS/2, MCA patents (posted by Louis)
- Streamlined the main index and some sub-index pages for easier navigation
- The "Complex Thoughts" page now serves as the main "Processor Complex" index.
All processor complex-related pages can be reached from here now.
- Added "MCA Pinouts"
- Reworked the "MCA Slots" page. Replaced the original ASCII art with pictures.
- Moved the HIMEM.SYS Update info to its own page.
- T4 - added info about diag. LEDs
- T4 - added info about SDL POST diags and SDL POST diag jumper
- Op Panel - added some SDL info
- Added SDL programming page
31 Jan 2020
- Updated Online INF Book Reader to version 0.3
- Added ServerGuide 3.01 INF files (thanks Tim)
- Added IVIEW 2.1, level 100 (fixes some font rendering issues)
21 Jan 2020
- Updated Online INF Book Reader to version 0.2
20 Jan 2020
- Added Online INF Book Reader
02 Jan 2020 – 04 Jan 2020
- Added Operator Panel Upgrade for 9585 K/N
- Added ServerGuide 2.50 INF files (thanks Wolf)
26 Dec 2019 – 27 Dec 2019
- Minor index and disks page tweaks
- Links/media links update
01 Dec 2019 – 16 Dec 2019
- Index page update, sections reorganized
- Minor Operator/Indicator Panel changes, 85 Indicator Panel schematic update
- Added Flash ROM info page
- Reworked 85 K/N planar outline and description
- Updated 9595, Bermuda, and Lacuna planar outlines and description
- Merge of the latest Louis' changes; snapshot taken 15 Dec 2019
20 Nov 2019 – 23 Nov 2019
- Index page update, new index menu, reworked sub-sections, a little bit of SEO
- Fixed some broken links and URL case inconsistencies.
14 Nov 2019 – 16 Nov 2019
- Updated and fixed the Processor Complex Matrix (from Louis)
- Added Tech. Ref. for PS/2 76/77 i/s, Server 85, Server 95, 95A (INF) (from Louis)
- Index page update (simplified and reorganized)
- New index pages for PC, RT, RS/6000, ThinkPads, and other systems
- Tweaked colors of the PS/2 form factor previews
- New index image (from Wikipedia, made by Raymangold22, public domain - CC0)
- Reorganized the Needham's Programmers section a bit
- Added a few more IBM patents
- Added some new POST/IML error codes + other minor tweaks
26 Sep 2019
- Model 76/77 - added some more flash BIOS files, minor cleanup
21 Aug 2019 – 23 Aug 2019
- Added RM Nimbus index and files
- Added some Olivetti files
- A few additions to the Link collection
- Minor index update and some other changes
- Tweaked "Peter H. Wendt's Adapter Picture Collection and made it available locally
18 Aug 2019
04 Jul 2019 – 17 Aug 2019
- Cleaned up a few pages
- Localized a few more links, added internal links
- Promoted the "ALR Files" page to a proper ALR index page
- Added NCR index page, NCR file libraries, system files, documents, etc.
- Added Olivetti index page, Olivetti system list, service guides, documents, etc.
- Configuration index and Technical Background index are now two separate pages
- Technical Background - added info about MCA-specific programming routines
- Imported Model 25 pages from William R. Walsh's website + new sub-index
- Imported EduQuest pages from William R. Walsh's website + new sub-index
- Added Apricot index page, system info, and some files.
- Merge of the latest Louis' changes; snapshot taken 17 Jul 2019
- 95/95A planar cleanup, new outlines, fixed links
- Parallel port & mouse cleanup (fixed links, localized files, reworked tables, etc.)
- Floppy pinouts reworked tables, added 40-pin planar pinout, cable diagrams...
- Resolved the networking index vs adapters index vs main index redundancy
- Localized Token Ring NIC benchmarking info from Wolfgang Gehl
- Added Infotronic IGP64 CHROMA/MCA page, based on info from Wolfgang Gehl
- Resolved the 9590 planar vs 9590 Common Devices redundancy
- Added a proper 9590 index page, cleaned up the 9590 pages, new planar outline
- Cleaned up the Op Panel page, replaced all the ASCII-art with proper schematics
- Added some more PS/2 and MCA patents held by IBM, new patent folder and index
- Added memory technology docs from IBM Microelectronics (DRAM, VRAM, etc.)
- Reworked the Op Panel page, added schematics for 85, 95 XP, and 95A panels, pinouts and much more...
- Localized Intel FDIV Processor Replacement Program pages
- Localized Processor Complex-related IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletins + links
- Reworked the PS/55 and Multistation index pages, fixed up a few other PS/55 pages.
- Added memory chip conversion chart (DRAM, SRAM, EPROM, FLASH...)
- Fixed a multitude of broken links and URL case inconsistencies.
- Some final pre-release touches across the board.
29 May 2019 – 25 Jun 2019
- Merge of the latest Louis' changes; snapshot taken 29 May 2019
- Cleaned up a few pages
- Localized a few more links
- Fixed some internal links
- Added a few more scans/articles
- Removed some more duplicate pages (serial, parallel, error index, etc.)
- Added a list of the RETAIN books
- Added PS/2 brochures (from 1000bit.it)
30 Apr 2017 – 13 Jun 2017
- Merge of the latest Louis' changes (apart from some "broken" bits, and parts
that were already tweaked in the MAD Edition); snapshot taken 30 Apr 2017
- Added PS/2 Model List and PS/2 Form Factor pages
- Added a collection of PS/2 and MCA related articles from PCMag, InfoWorld and other mags. (Thanks Google Books!)
- Added a few more PS/2 PDFs
- Added local copy of reconstructed Piper Research website
- Added Kingston Files
- Cleaned up a few pages (burn in hell WYSIWYG HTML editors!)
- Localized a few more links
- Some plain text tables reworked to HTML format
- Added 6900 - Personal Typing System page with info and pics from Scott Peterson
- Added detailed 8580 20 MHz planar outline and component list
- Reworked/corrected/added a few more planar outlines (8525, 8530...)
- Added a list of common IBM PS/2 ASICs
- Added Technical Information Catalog (by IBM) - list only, no files
- Added PCI/Micro Channel White Paper (by IBM) - PCI/MCA comparison
- Added local copy of (MCDA) Micro Channel Developers Association, just for fun...
- New fancy index images
- Tweaked the PS/55 and Multistation "Timeline" pages
- Tweaked a few more PS/55 and Multistation pages (mostly formatting fixes)
- Added Kentie's Model 95 and Model 95 Case Conversion pages
- Reorganized the Networking sections
- Added CNet 650E/2 adapter info and files
- Added/localized 3Com EtherLink/TokenLink files
16 Aug 2016 – 01 Sep 2016
- Merged with many other PS/2 and MCA-oriented websites (see above)
- Index page reworked
- PDF documents section extended and cleaned up (added files from MCA Mafia, schematics...)
- Some missing bits and pieces (pages, pictures...) recovered. Thanks web.archive.org!
- Localized many external pages and files (pictures, documents, binaries...)
- Many internal links fixed
- Some duplicate pages and sections removed or merged; links updated accordingly
(Like the four, mostly identical, versions of the "SCSI w/Cache" page.)
- Some plain text tables reworked to HTML format
- Some pictures reworked, tidied up, etc.
- Fixed formating of many pages (to a truly unified form shared across the website)
- Other minor changes (typos, text formating, file names, dir. hierarchy...)
16 Aug 2016
- This is where and when it all started. Created an offline copy of Louis' Ardent Tool for personal use.
(Why? Read the full story HERE.)
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