First you need to go to the folder with the game files. The easiest way to do this is to click right click mouse over the shortcut on the desktop and select "File location".
Now you will see a folder with game files. In it you need to find the files “ra2.ini” and “ra2md.ini”. The first corresponds to the game Red Alert 2, the second to the Yuri's Revenge add-on. Accordingly, you need to do the same actions in both files.
These files appear after the first launch of the corresponding games. If you don't have them yet, run the game at least once and they should appear.
Open the file "ra2md.ini" using any text editor, for example, "Notepad" and paste the following line into the section:
VideoBackBuffer=no
If you want to change the screen resolution in the game, right there, next to it, change the ScreenWidth and ScreenHeight values (I have them set to 1920 and 1080, respectively).
Everything is as shown in the screenshot:
Save the file. Make similar changes to ra2.ini.
All! You can start the game, it shouldn't slow down anymore!
Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge crashes
If your game is crashing, NPatch may be able to help you.
Download the first file from the list and install. After this it shouldn't crash.
For some reason Google Chrome and Firefox swear by this file as malicious. This is a false positive, since Virustotal says that everything is ok. And I installed it for myself too, everything is fine. Although it is, of course, your business, I am in no way persuading anyone.
How to play online?
There are separate instructions for this on how to play Red Alert 2 online.
You can leave a comment with "Facebook": Don't forget to leave comments using "VKontakte":
maslov.co
How to run Red Alert 2 on Windows 7-8.1
Good day, I want to share how to still launch the old, but forgotten game Command Conquer Red Alert 2 on Windows 7,8.1 operating systems. To do this, we need a clean game client, install the game, then from the root folder create a shortcut to the game.exe file. In the shortcut we created, go to properties, then in the file path tab add -win separated by a space, for example, this is what our path looked like" C:\Program Files (x86)\Red Alert 2\Game.exe" after we add it should look like this "C:\Program Files (x86)\Red Alert 2\Game.exe" -win
Go ahead and select the mode in the compatibility tab windows compatibility xp sp 2, it is more suitable for the requirements of this game. In the parameters, put a tick in the low color mode and select 16-bit color. Note on monitors high resolution, the game does not launch in full screen.
hodovoi.org
Running Red Alert 2 on Windows 7
Launching Red Alert 2 on Windows 7dimasomskMarch 8th, 2012If someone has already tried to install this game on the seven, then they encountered an error when starting the game, which actually prevented the game from starting. And yesterday I googled and found a way to launch it!1. Well, first you need to install the game, if it is installed, then you can scroll through the first item.We download the game, for example, from the Omsk torrent tracker: Red Alert 2 + Yuri's Revenge
We launch Red Alert 2.exe and continue with the normal installation. After the installation is complete, go to the root directory of the game and find the file there: Ra2.exe or Ra2md.exe; for start regular version or “Yuri’s Revenge”, respectively, and right-click on it, where we select “fix compatibility problems”
select this item, a window appears in which some processes automatically occur and two diagnostic options appear. Select "program diagnostics"
Then from those presented to us possible problems select "the program worked in previous Windows versions, but won't install or run right now"
A choice of other OS versions appears, and of course we select Windows XP sp2 or sp3 (it runs on both)
This method was tested on Windows 7 Home basic 32 and 64 bit versions.
dimasomsk.livejournal.com
C&C: Red Alert - problem solving
Recently I was drawn to the good old rts of the C&C series... But several problems arose with Red Alert (1), which I will try to help avoid. So, you have two disk images of the game. However, there will probably be an error when trying to install; You can set the compatibility mode for Windows 95 in the properties of the launched file, but this will not help on 64-bit Windows. Therefore, after mounting the disk image (this can be done, for example, with the program DAEMON Tools Lite) the easiest way is to use the Red Alert Setup Manager 0.98 software, you can download it here.
Unpack, launch, select the functions you need and the path to install the game, click Apply. That's it, now all that remains is to set the RA95.exe file to Windows 95 compatibility mode and you can play. To complete the campaign for allies, you need to mount the first disk, and for advice, accordingly, the second.
However, in the game itself, for some reason, graphical bugs appeared, menus, cutscenes, shadows, effects are glitchy in different colors... You can play, but, of course, it’s unpleasant and ugly. Perhaps this only happens on Windows 7 64-bit. I had difficulty finding a solution to the problem, it turned out that for some reason the explorer.exe process was interfering with the game. So if you have the same problem and you are an experienced user, try the following: launch the game, minimize it (Alt+Tab); open the task manager (Ctrl+Shift+ESC or select it after pressing ctrl+alt+del), end the explorer.exe process (attention, it is responsible for Explorer and you the panel will disappear tasks!); switch back to the game (Alt+Tab). Sometimes glitches do not disappear immediately, try switching back and forth a few more times. After the game, open the task manager, click file - new task (run), type explorer.exe, OK. Everything should be as before.
There were no problems with Red Alert 2, except for the error "***FATAL*** String Manager Failed to Initialize Properly", if you have it, then run the game as an administrator or change the security settings for the executable file. Also check if the game folder has a Read-only attribute and remove it. If you are trying to run the game from a "regular" profile in Win 7, ask your administrator to give full access to the game folder. It looks something like this
If all else fails, try playing Yuri's Revenge; according to reviews, there are no such problems with it.
P.S. Perhaps some solutions will be suitable for subsequent games in the series.
If someone has already tried to install this game on seven, then they encountered an error when starting the game, which actually prevented the game from starting. And yesterday I googled and found a way to launch it!
1. Well, first you need to install the game, if it is installed, you can scroll through the first item.
We download the game, for example, from the Omsk torrent tracker: Red Alert 2 + Yuri's Revenge
Launch Red Alert 2.exe and then proceed with the normal installation
After the installation is complete, go to the root directory of the game and find the file there: Ra2.exe or Ra2md.exe; to launch the regular version or “Yuri’s Revenge”, respectively, and right-click on it, where we select “fix compatibility problems”
select this item, a window appears in which some processes automatically occur and two diagnostic options appear. Select "program diagnostics" 
Then, from the possible problems presented to us, we select “the program worked in previous versions Windows, but won't install or start right now" 
A choice of other OS versions appears, and of course we select Windows XP sp2 or sp3 (it runs on both) 
Click “next” and then “run the program”.
This method was tested on Windows 7 Home basic 32 and 64 bit versions.
If you are faced with the fact that Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 slows down, crashes, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 does not start, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 does not install, the controls do not work in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, there is no sound, errors pop up, saves don’t work in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 – we offer you the most common ways to solve these problems.
First, check if your PC's specifications meet the minimum system requirements:
- Windows 95/98/2000/NT;
- Processor Pentium II 266 MHz;
- Memory: 64 MB;
- Video card: 2 MB;
- DirectSound-compatible sound card;
- Disk space: 350 MB.
Be sure to update your video card drivers and other software
Before you remember the worst words and express them towards the developers, do not forget to go to the official website of the manufacturer of your video card and download the latest drivers. Often, drivers specially optimized for them are prepared for the release of games. You can also try installing a later version of drivers if the problem is not solved by installing the current version.
It is important to remember that you should only download the final versions of video cards - try not to use beta versions, as they may have a large number of unfound and unfixed errors.
Do not forget that for stable operation of games, installation of the latest version of DirectX is often required, which can always be downloaded from the official Microsoft website.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 won't launch
Many problems with launching games occur due to incorrect installation. Check if there were any errors during installation, try uninstalling the game and running the installer again, after disabling the antivirus - often files necessary for the game to work are deleted by mistake. It is also important to remember that in the path to the folder with installed game There should be no Cyrillic characters - use only Latin letters and numbers for catalog names.
It also doesn’t hurt to check if there is enough space on the HDD for installation. You can try to run the game as Administrator in compatibility mode different versions Windows.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 is slow. Low FPS. Lags. Friezes. Freezes
First, install the latest drivers for your video card; this can significantly increase the FPS in the game. Also check your computer's load in the task manager (opened by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESCAPE). If before starting the game you see that some process is consuming too many resources, turn off its program or simply end this process from the task manager.
Next, go to the graphics settings in the game. First of all, turn off anti-aliasing and try lowering the post-processing settings. Many of them consume a lot of resources and disabling them will significantly improve performance without significantly affecting the picture quality.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 crashes to desktop
If Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 often crashes on your desktop slot, try to start solving the problem by reducing the quality of the graphics. It is possible that your computer simply does not have enough performance and the game cannot run correctly. It's also worth checking for updates - most modern games have a system automatic installation new patches. Check if this option is disabled in the settings.
Black screen in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Most often the problem with a black screen is a problem with GPU. Check if your video card meets the minimum requirements and install the latest drivers. Sometimes a black screen is a result of insufficient CPU performance.
If everything is fine with the hardware and it meets the minimum requirements, try switching to another window (ALT+TAB), and then returning to the game window.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 won't install. Installation stuck
First of all, check if you have enough HDD space for installation. Remember that for the installation program to work correctly, the stated amount of space is required, plus 1-2 gigabytes of free space on system disk. In general, remember the rule - there should always be at least 2 gigabytes of free space on the system disk for temporary files. Otherwise, both games and programs may not work correctly or may refuse to start at all.
Installation problems can also occur due to lack of internet connection or unstable work. Also, do not forget to pause the antivirus while installing the game - sometimes it interferes with the correct copying of files or deletes them by mistake, considering them viruses.
Saves not working in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
By analogy with the previous solution, check the availability of free space on the HDD - both on the one where the game is installed and on the system drive. Often save files are stored in a documents folder, which is located separately from the game itself.
Controls don't work in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Sometimes game controls do not work due to multiple input devices being connected at the same time. Try disabling the gamepad or, if for some reason you have two keyboards or mice connected, leave only one pair of devices. If your gamepad does not work, then remember that games are officially supported only by controllers defined as Xbox joysticks. If your controller is detected differently, try using programs that emulate Xbox joysticks (for example, x360ce).
Sound does not work in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Check if the sound works in other programs. After this, check whether the sound is turned off in the game settings and whether the sound playback device to which your speakers or headset is connected is selected there. Next, while the game is running, open the mixer and check if the sound there is muted.
If you are using an external sound card, check for new drivers on the manufacturer's website.
Unfortunately, games have flaws: stutters, low FPS, crashes, freezes, bugs and other minor and not so minor errors. Often problems begin even before the game starts, when it does not install, does not load, or does not even download. And the computer itself sometimes does weird things, and then in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 there’s a black screen instead of a picture, the controls don’t work, you can’t hear the sound or anything else.
What to do first
- Download and run the world famous CCleaner(download via direct link) - this is a program that will clean your computer of unnecessary garbage, as a result of which the system will work faster after the first reboot;
- Update all drivers on the system using the program Driver Updater(download via direct link) - it will scan your computer and update all drivers to current version in 5 minutes;
- Install the program WinOptimizer(download via direct link) and enable game mode in it, which will end useless background processes during game launches and will improve in-game performance.
The second thing to do if you have any problems with RA2 is to check the system requirements. In a good way, you need to do this before purchasing, so as not to regret the money spent.
Every gamer should have at least a little understanding of components, know why a video card, processor and other things are needed system unit.
Files, drivers and libraries
Almost every device in a computer requires a set of special software. These are drivers, libraries and other files that provide correct work computer.
You should start with the drivers for your video card. Modern graphics cards are manufactured by only two large companies - Nvidia and AMD. Having found out which product turns the coolers in the system unit, we go to the official website and download the package fresh drivers:
Required condition For the successful operation of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, it is necessary to have the latest drivers for all devices in the system. Download the utility Driver Updater to download easily and quickly latest versions drivers and install them with one click:
If RA2 does not start, we recommend that you try to disable your antivirus or put the game in the antivirus exceptions, and also check again for compliance with the system requirements and if something from your build does not comply, then, if possible, improve your PC by purchasing more powerful components.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 has a black screen, a white screen, and a color screen. Solution
Problems with screens of different colors can be divided into 2 categories.
Firstly, they often involve using two video cards at once. For example, if your motherboard has a built-in video card, but you play on a discrete one, then RA2 can be launched for the first time on the built-in one, but you won’t see the game itself, because the monitor is connected to discrete video card.
Secondly, color screens occur when there are problems with displaying images on the screen. This can happen for various reasons. For example, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 cannot work through an outdated driver or does not support the video card. Also black/ White screen may be displayed when running at resolutions that are not supported by the game.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 crashes. At a specific or random moment. Solution
You play for yourself, play and then - bam! - everything goes out, and now you have a desktop in front of you without any hint of a game. Why is this happening? To solve the problem, you should try to figure out what the nature of the problem is.
If the departure occurs in random moment time without any pattern, then with a 99% probability we can say that this is a mistake in the game itself. In this case, it is very difficult to fix something, and the best thing to do is just put Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 aside and wait for the patch.
However, if you know exactly at what moments the crash occurs, then you can continue the game, avoiding situations that provoke a crash.
However, if you know exactly at what moments the crash occurs, then you can continue the game, avoiding situations that provoke a crash. In addition, you can download the RA2 save and bypass the departure location.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 freezes. The picture freezes. Solution
The situation is approximately the same as with crashes: many freezes are directly related to the game itself, or rather to the developer’s mistake when creating it. However, often a frozen picture can become a starting point for investigating the deplorable state of a video card or processor.
So if the picture in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 freezes, then use programs to display statistics on component loading. Perhaps your video card has long exhausted its working life or the processor is heating up to dangerous temperatures?
The easiest way to check the load and temperatures for the video card and processors is in the MSI Afterburner program. If you wish, you can even display these and many other parameters on top of the Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 picture.
What temperatures are dangerous? Processors and video cards have different operating temperatures. For video cards they are usually 60-80 degrees Celsius. For processors it is slightly lower - 40-70 degrees. If the processor temperature is higher, then you should check the condition of the thermal paste. It may have already dried out and needs to be replaced.
If the video card is heating up, then you should use a driver or an official utility from the manufacturer. It is necessary to increase the number of revolutions of the coolers and check whether it decreases working temperature.
RA2 is slowing down. Low FPS. Frame rate drops. Solution
If there are slowdowns and low frame rates in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, the first thing to do is lower the graphics settings. Of course, there are many of them, so before reducing everything, it’s worth finding out exactly how certain settings affect performance.
Screen resolution. In short, this is the number of points that make up the game picture. The higher the resolution, the higher the load on the video card. However, the increase in load is insignificant, so you should reduce the screen resolution only as a last resort, when everything else no longer helps.
Texture quality. Typically, this setting determines the resolution of texture files. You should reduce the texture quality if the video card has a small amount of video memory (less than 4 GB) or if you are using a very old one. HDD, whose spindle speed is less than 7200.
Model quality(sometimes just detailing). This setting determines which set of 3D models will be used in the game. The higher the quality, the more polygons. Accordingly, high-poly models require more processing power from the video card (not to be confused with the amount of video memory!), which means this parameter should be reduced on video cards with low core or memory frequencies.
Shadows. They are implemented in different ways. In some games, shadows are created dynamically, that is, they are calculated in real time at every second of the game. Such dynamic shadows load both the processor and the video card. For optimization purposes, developers often abandon full rendering and add pre-rendered shadows to the game. They are static, because essentially they are just textures overlaid on top of the main textures, which means they load memory, and not the video card core.
Often developers add additional settings related to shadows:
- Shadow Resolution - Determines how detailed the shadow cast by an object will be. If the game has dynamic shadows, it loads the video card core, and if a pre-created render is used, then it “eats” the video memory.
- Soft shadows - smooths out unevenness in the shadows themselves, usually this option is given along with dynamic shadows. Regardless of the type of shadows, it loads the video card in real time.
Smoothing. Allows you to get rid of ugly corners on the edges of objects through the use of a special algorithm, the essence of which usually comes down to generating several images at once and comparing them, calculating the most “smooth” picture. There are many different smoothing algorithms, which differ in the level of impact on the performance of RA2.
For example, MSAA works head-on, creating 2, 4 or 8 renders at once, so the frame rate is reduced by 2, 4 or 8 times, respectively. Algorithms like FXAA and TAA work a little differently, achieving a smooth image by calculating only the edges and using some other tricks. Thanks to this, they do not reduce performance as much.
Lighting. As with anti-aliasing, there are different algorithms for lighting effects: SSAO, HBAO, HDAO. They all use video card resources, but they do it differently depending on the video card itself. The fact is that the HBAO algorithm was promoted mainly on video cards from Nvidia (GeForce line), so it works best on “green” ones. HDAO, on the contrary, is optimized for video cards from AMD. SSAO is the simplest type of lighting, it consumes the least resources, so if it's slow in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, it's worth switching to it.
What to reduce first? Shadows, anti-aliasing and lighting effects tend to take the most work, so these are the best places to start.
Gamers often have to optimize Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 themselves. For almost all major releases, there are various relevant forums where users share their ways to improve performance.
One of them is a special program called WinOptimizer. It is made specifically for those who do not want to manually clear their computer of various temporary files, delete unnecessary entries registry and edit the startup list. WinOptimizer will do this itself and also analyze your computer to identify ways to improve performance in applications and games.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 lags. Large delay when playing. Solution
Many people confuse “brakes” with “lags,” but these problems have completely different reasons. RA2 slows down when the frame rate at which the image is displayed on the monitor decreases, and lags when the delay when accessing the server or any other host is too high.
This is why lags can only occur in online games. Various reasons: bad network code, physical distance from servers, network congestion, incorrectly configured router, low Internet connection speed.
However, the latter happens least often. In online games, communication between client and server occurs through the exchange of relatively short messages, so even 10 MB per second should be enough.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 has no sound. Can not hear anything. Solution
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 works, but for some reason it doesn't sound - this is another problem that gamers are facing. Of course, you can play like this, but it’s still better to figure out what’s going on.
First you need to determine the scale of the problem. Where exactly is there no sound - only in the game or even on the computer? If only in a game, then perhaps this is due to the fact that the sound card is very old and does not support DirectX.
If there is no sound at all, then the problem is definitely in the computer settings. Drivers may not be installed correctly sound card, or maybe there is no sound due to some specific error in our beloved Windows OS.
Controls do not work in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. RA2 does not recognize the mouse, keyboard or gamepad. Solution
How to play if it is impossible to control the process? Problems with supporting specific devices are inappropriate here, because we are talking about familiar devices - a keyboard, mouse and controller.
Thus, errors in the game itself are practically excluded; the problem is almost always on the user's side. You can solve it in different ways, but, one way or another, you will have to contact the driver. Usually, when you connect a new device, the operating system immediately tries to use one of the standard drivers, but some models of keyboards, mice and gamepads are incompatible with them.
Thus, you need to find out the exact model of the device and try to find its driver. Devices from well-known gaming brands often come with their own software packages, since the standard Windows driver simply cannot ensure the correct operation of all functions of a particular device.
If you don’t want to search for drivers for all devices separately, you can use the program Driver Updater. It is intended for automatic search drivers, so you just need to wait for the scan results and download necessary drivers in the program interface.
Often, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 slowdowns can be caused by viruses. In this case, it makes no difference how powerful the video card is in the system unit. You can scan your computer and clean it of viruses and other unwanted software using special programs. For example NOD32. The antivirus has proven itself to be the best and has been approved by millions of users around the world.
ZoneAlarm is suitable for both personal use and small businesses, capable of protecting a computer running Windows system 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP from any attacks: phishing, viruses, malware, spyware and other cyber threats. New users are given a 30-day free trial.
Nod32 is an antivirus from ESET, which has received many awards for its contribution to security development. Versions of antivirus programs are available on the developer’s website for both PCs and mobile devices, a 30-day trial is provided. There are special conditions for business.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 downloaded from a torrent does not work. Solution
If the game distribution was downloaded via torrent, then in principle there can be no guarantees of operation. Torrents and repacks are almost never updated through official applications and do not work over the network, because in the process of hacking, hackers cut out everything from the games network functions, which are often used to verify a license.Using such versions of games is not only inconvenient, but even dangerous, because very often many files in them have been changed. For example, to bypass protection, pirates modify the EXE file. At the same time, no one knows what else they do with it. Perhaps they are building in a self-executing software. For example, when the game is first launched, it will integrate into the system and use its resources to ensure the well-being of hackers. Or, giving access to the computer to third parties. There are no guarantees here and cannot be.
In addition, the use of pirated versions is, in the opinion of our publication, theft. The developers spent a lot of time creating the game, investing their own money in the hope that their brainchild would pay off. And every work must be paid.
Therefore, if any problems arise with games downloaded from torrents or hacked using one or another means, you should immediately remove the pirated version, clean your computer with an antivirus and a licensed copy of the game. This will not only protect you from dubious software, but will also allow you to download updates for the game and receive official support from its creators.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 gives an error that a DLL file is missing. Solution
As a rule, problems associated with missing DLLs arise when launching Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, but sometimes the game can access certain DLLs during the process and, not finding them, crash in the most blatant manner.
To fix this error, you need to find the necessary DLL and install it on the system. The easiest way to do this is using the program DLL-fixer, which scans the system and helps quickly find missing libraries.
If your problem turns out to be more specific or the method outlined in this article did not help, then you can ask other users in our “” section. They will help you quickly!
Thank you for your attention!
However, it is also one of the older games in the franchise that predates recent Windows platforms. As such, not all RA 2 players can get the game up and running. These are a few resolutions that might kick-start Red Alert 2 for Command and Conquer fanatics who need to fix the game.
Fix Red Alert 2 bugs in Windows 10
1. Open the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
First, check out the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter included in Windows. That troubleshooter can fix compatibility issues for more outdated software. Follow the guidelines below to open the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.
- Press the Type here to search button on the Windows 10 taskbar to open Cortana.
- Enter ‘troubleshoot’ in the Cortana search box and select Troubleshoot to open the window in the image directly below.
- Select the Program and Compatibility troubleshooter listed there.
- Press the Run the troubleshooter button to open the window in the snapshot below.
- Then select Red Alert 2 in the troubleshooter‘s software list, and press the Next button.
2. Run Red Alert 2 in Compatibility Mode
Red Alert 2 returns a “ FATAL String Manager failed to initialized properly” error for some players who can’t get the game up and running. Running RA 2 in compatibility mode is a fix more specifically for that error message. You can run RA 2 in compatibility mode as follows.
- First, open the Red Alert 2 folder in File Explorer.
- Then right-click the gamemd.exe in File Explorer and select Properties to open the window.
- Select the Compatibility tab in the snapshot directly below.
- Select the Run this program in compatibility mode for option.
- Then select WinXP (Service Pack 3) on the platform drop-down menu.
- Select the Run this program as an administrator check box on the Compatibility tab.
- In addition, adjust the graphical settings by selecting Reduced color mode and 16-bit color from the drop-down menu.
- Then click Apply to confirm the new settings, and press the OK button.
- Repeat the above guidelines for every exe in your Red Alert 2 folder, such as Ra2.exe, game.exe, YURI.exe and RA2MD.exe.
3. Configure the Game's Resolution
Red Alert 2 was designed for . Some players have fixed the game by adjusting its resolution to match their current VDU resolutions. You can configure Red Alert 2‘s resolution by editing its RA2.ini file as follows.
- Open the Red Alert 2 directory within File Explorer.
- The right-click the RA2.INI file in the Red Alert 2 directory and select Open with.
- Select to open RA2.INI with Notepad.
- Then edit the ScreenWidth and ScreenHeight values in the RA2.INI file to match your current display resolution.
- In addition, edit the VideoBackBuffer attribute to a no value. The attribute should be configured as: VideoBackBuffer=no.
- Click File > Save to save the RA2.INI.
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