Rooted Phone - Warranty? - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
during the last weeks I had so many problems with my S3 and now I want to send it in to Amazon so that they check it what the problem is, I'm still in my warranty time so I have all rights to do this.
So my question is I have rooted my phone so that I can use several programs better but I still have the stock rom. So is rooting is a violation of the warranty? Is it better to unroot the phone first? And if yes, how do I do this?
Anything else I have to check?
Thanks a lot for your help!

Basicly yes, it's better to delete everything before. However it depends on the method.
If you've used CF-AutoRoot then it should have such function, in SuperSU app called unrooting or cleaning. Then you just delete SuperSU (if it won't get deleted for whatever reason) and you're ready to go. If you've used CF-Root then you should flash original stock rom, kernel and recovery, with formatting of /system /data /preload and /cache. Or just using unrooting by SuperSU app and flashing original recovery.
However watch your flash counter, don't forget to set it to 0 before sending .

Depending on where you are from (I see Germany) rooting is not a violation of warranty (defined in EU law) and Samsung would have to proof that you rooting the phone did the damage whereas I would not bet on this.
Hence I would unroot, install stock rom, reset counter etc. as it is quite an easy process.

Good question, I really don't know how I rooted. The thing is I already did a factory reset last week. It looks like that my Phone now isn't rooted anymore. SuperSU was installed when I factory reseted the phone but now I tried to install Triangle Away to reset my counter, it said that my phone isn't rooted, same message appeared with Titantium Backup.
So I have to root it now so that the programs work and then I can unroot everything and reset everything? Or is it fine as it is? I just checked my Cutom Rom counter which is at 3. I guess these are my root attempts? Because I always used stock rom.

TheSKYY said:
Good question, I really don't know how I rooted. The thing is I already did a factory reset last week. It looks like that my Phone now isn't rooted anymore. SuperSU was installed when I factory reseted the phone but now I tried to install Triangle Away to reset my counter, it said that my phone isn't rooted, same message appeared with Titantium Backup.
So I have to root it now so that the programs work and then I can unroot everything and reset everything? Or is it fine as it is? I just checked my Cutom Rom counter which is at 3. I guess these are my root attempts? Because I always used stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if your counter is 3, and to be very save, root, reset the counter, un-root following the guides here on XDA, doing the process now for 20min saves you time to argue with Amazon or whoever later on

Which root should I do now to use Triangle? CF-Autoroot oder CF-Root?
Thanks a lot for your help!

TheSKYY said:
Which root should I do now to use Triangle? CF-Autoroot oder CF-Root?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does not really matter a alot, CF-Root will include a custom recovery (which will be overwirtten with stock rom flash if I am not wrong?), CF-Autoroot will not include it, hence I would go with autoroot

One last question, do I have to factory reset when I Autoroot with Odin? If possible I would like to keep my data at the moment and then I'd like to use Titanium Backup to backup at least some app savings. After that Odin and other can delete whatever they want.
Thanks again.

TheSKYY said:
One last question, do I have to factory reset when I Autoroot with Odin? If possible I would like to keep my data at the moment and then I'd like to use Titanium Backup to backup at least some app savings. After that Odin and other can delete whatever they want.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you don't
Check out the cf auto root thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1957273
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blackhand64 said:
No you don't
Check out the cf auto root thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1957273
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If he wants original rom state for warranty I guess he has to or not?
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Related

[q] unrooting sgs2 (already on stock rom)

My Goal: set everything back to stock for warranty. (charging system is *%$#ed)
my problem: I am stuck at the unrooting part.
I have read everything I can over and over and yet I still find myself in a predicament. I have restored everything back to stock (I rooted and unlocked my SGS2, but I never used a custom ROM).
I have relocked the device, I have reset everything back to stock. I used the jig to reset the flash counter. I re flashed my secure kernel. Everything checks out, except my Superuser access.
Now here is the part where I am stuck. So essentially from what I read I have 3 options that I can recall:
1 - just re flash my stock ROM to remove root (seems pointless as I have never had to flash a ROM, seeing as I am still on my stock ROM)
2 - unroot using SOC (which failed to work, stuck on step 6)
3 - use Samsung Kies to update. (this also failed, won't detect my phone, and yes it is in Kies mode, no debug)
I am at a loss. I am on the Bell network in Canada, and I am on UGKG2 firmware.
Please let me know if you need more information. Also, I apologize if the answer is in one of the threads. I have been reading everything whenever I can, and just can't figure this one out. thanks for your patience in advance
alex8642 said:
My Goal: set everything back to stock for warranty. (charging system is *%$#ed)
my problem: I am stuck at the unrooting part.
I have read everything I can over and over and yet I still find myself in a predicament. I have restored everything back to stock (I rooted and unlocked my SGS2, but I never used a custom ROM).
I have relocked the device, I have reset everything back to stock. I used the jig to reset the flash counter. I re flashed my secure kernel. Everything checks out, except my Superuser access.
Now here is the part where I am stuck. So essentially from what I read I have 3 options that I can recall:
1 - just re flash my stock ROM to remove root (seems pointless as I have never had to flash a ROM, seeing as I am still on my stock ROM)
2 - unroot using SOC (which failed to work, stuck on step 6)
3 - use Samsung Kies to update. (this also failed, won't detect my phone, and yes it is in Kies mode, no debug)
I am at a loss. I am on the Bell network in Canada, and I am on UGKG2 firmware.
Please let me know if you need more information. Also, I apologize if the answer is in one of the threads. I have been reading everything whenever I can, and just can't figure this one out. thanks for your patience in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have to flash an original firmware if you want to get rid of root and cwm.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Is there a way you can tell that your phone isn't rooted anymore?
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chaosreign said:
Is there a way you can tell that your phone isn't rooted anymore?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there is a market app (rootcheck) but it's easy to check yourself, if you dont have superuser in your app drawer you are not rooted.
Let's say, you dont have superuser app and you cannot access cwm recovery = you are not rooted
If I may ask, why exactly is it that you cannot unroot without flashing an original firmware? Why does SOC even give you the option if it doesn't work? Thanks for the timely replies though
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alex8642 said:
If I may ask, why exactly is it that you cannot unroot without flashing an original firmware? Why does SOC even give you the option if it doesn't work? Thanks for the timely replies though
Sent from my GT-I9100M using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
soc does work but a lot of people screw up 3 Simple steps and end up with a semi bricked phone.
Flash a stock firmware is probably the more "safe" system. Also allows you to flash latest version that some countries will never receive or receive very late.
Sry my English sux even more today lol
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Ok... So let's troubleshoot why I can't get the unroot to work for SOC... I have tried both in and out of download mode. Debugging on and debugging off. Yet the unroot stops at step 6 and does nothing...
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I read in another post it is as simple as removing superuser.apk and the su folder on system...
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I just flashed the stock rom back. Seems to look quite 100% like it did when it came in the box. Jigged to kill flash counter. I think I am set to send it in Thanks a lot guys.
Following that, looks like for root you just need to download superuser app from market and you are good to go....
Its not so easy as you know.
Removing the superuser apk just removes the superuse app, but then you end up with a semi rooted phone with cwm recovery (that you dont want if you want to go back to stock)
----------------
Good im glad you managed to "restock" the phone as you see it is fast and easy with flash of a stock rom

unrooting question

if rooted useing the galaxy sIII toolkit, how can i unroot so i can reset device to out of box state??? i know i would go to CWM and wipe the system, but how would i go about flashing the original recovery???
Daviddc1144 said:
if rooted useing the galaxy sIII toolkit, how can i unroot so i can reset device to out of box state??? i know i would go to CWM and wipe the system, but how would i go about flashing the original recovery???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you restore cwm will be gone and wrong forum
darren.wlsn1 said:
when you restore cwm will be gone and wrong forum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
where do i get the original recovery to flash???
so i flash it in clockwork recovery, and when phone reboots it is back to OEM????
what i mean is the stock GS3 software.. when i am in clockwork recovery, i wipe the system and i flash the stock software, where do i download it from?? thanks..
So you don't want to unroot you just want to use the stock rom?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1726558
see if this helps. i know when i had to unroot it worked and kept all my data but if you are taking it back to the store for warranty you may want to try the app called "triangle away". the app makes it so they cannot tell if you have flashed any ROMs.
check out the development section for how to go back to stock. once i got it back up and running..i also went to settings, privacy to do a system reset as i didnt want them to see superuser app when i took my phone in to the store.
I am still running the stock Rom, I just rooted the phone and flashed clockwork recovery.. I'm trying to do a factory data reset. To reset the phone back to the out of box state. I am under the assumption that when a phone is rooted and a custom recovery is flashed you can not just go into settings and factory reset your phone or you will brick it. Am I correct in this assumption? And if I am corect what I think I have to do is flash the original recovery, then I can reset the phone to factory settings which will wipe it back to stock and remove the root.. correct? I am just not sure where to get the factory recovery. Doesn't clockwork recovery replace the factory recovery?
Yes factory reset after having cwma will not restore back to stock. You''ll have to flash stock via computer or mobile Odin. The link provided above should be helpful
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If you just want to unroot - removing Superuser.apk, su and busybox works.
CWM will stay though.
Then do factory reset and format internal sdcard. That will remove all user data.
So.. if you have clockwork recovery, and you factory reset the phone, it will put the factory recovery back?
I thought trying to reset while having a recovery flashed would lock up the phone...
Daviddc1144 said:
if rooted useing the galaxy sIII toolkit, how can i unroot so i can reset device to out of box state??? i know i would go to CWM and wipe the system, but how would i go about flashing the original recovery???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your still having trouble here, the answer this question & alot of others is at galaxys3root.com. It's one of Zedomax's sites that will give you clearly labeled & very easy to follow instructions to unroot for warranty return. He also includes a video where he will walk you step by step through the process. This is a great Site & you can find some great tutorials on the gs3, as well as rom reviews, so be sure to bookmark it! I hope I've helped
no no, i dont want to just follow instructions.. i am trying to understand CWM. i know how to use it, but every phone i ever rooted i was never able to reset back to factory settings because i was never sure if it would screw my phone up and i am trying to learn if it is safe t do. Does CWM replace the factory hboot or just install along with it? if i am rooted and i have CWM flashed, can i still reset to factory settings like normal? and if i do what will happen? will i still have root and CWM?? can i reset back to factory in ANY rom i flash safely? all that resetting back to factory does is remove accounts and .data files correct?? when you do a wipe in CWM it removes the entire OS, then you flash whatever rom you want.. when you reflash the factory ROM, unroot and remove CWM, hboot is still there correct? you dont have to reinstall hboot, right? you just have to make sure you reflashed the original ROM and uninstall root and CWM and then your back to original right?? i am just trying to understand it all thats all.. i know i can follow directions, but i am trying to learn. any site i find explaining CWM, it just explains what it does, i am trying to learn HOW it works so i can feel safe and i dont have to worry about bricking my phone. i was always too afraid to reset any phone i ever rooted because i never fully understood how CWM worked.. i always thought of our phones as a PC, where as a PC has a recovery partition with the software backed up in it, and i always think CWM wiped it clear, so if i try to reset the phone it will be looking for a partition that's not there. but now i think my PC analogy is wrong, and all a factory reset does is remove the .data files, not re install the software.. im trying to figure which one is true..
Bump
Guess were all in the same boat lol
after flashing stock back to the device, it also goes back to stock recovery. after boot, you still have all apps ex. titanium but once u open it will say no root access. u can then go to settings, privacy, and factory reset to get rid of titanium, etc so it is complete stock. no one would be able to tell of your past..lol. i was rooted earlier in week and made mistake of resetting to factory reset before unrooting. nothing bad happened and i unrooted and factory reset to take it to the store hope this clears up stuff.
if you are returning to a store flashing a stock Rom was all I needed to do a warranty exchange.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
This will answers all your questions I would hope.
galaxys3root dot com

Remove root. Help need please

Hi,
I am rooted on my S3 and all is good. However, my Father also has an S3 and last week he was talked into rooting it by his Grandson. All went well but long story short he was not happy with having a rooted phone so has decided to remove root. He has now done so by following various guides. He used Triangle away which he says went successfully and has used Odin to put the latest stock firmware on the phone which again he says went successfully. I was not there when he did all this but phone seems all good.
Except one thing. He has tried to install a couple of apps he had before rooting. Barclays bank app and Sky Go app. After installation these apps are saying they will not work on a rooted phone, but it's not rooted any more. I have booted into recovery using Volume down, power and home buttons and it says custom firmware / rom, I can't remember exact wording, but it says no. Also in the phone menu where a rooted phone says modified in device status it says normal or whatever it should say. Again can't remember exactly but all looks like no root present.
Anyone got any ideas on this? As I am rooted on my S3 and never un-rooted it yet, I do not know if he should have done something else. Will he have to root again to run triangle away or anything else. Or can this be fixed as the phone is at present?
Thanks for any help guys.
Cheers, Rich
Three6ty said:
Hi,
I am rooted on my S3 and all is good. However, my Father also has an S3 and last week he was talked into rooting it by his Grandson. All went well but long story short he was not happy with having a rooted phone so has decided to remove root. He has now done so by following various guides. He used Triangle away which he says went successfully and has used Odin to put the latest stock firmware on the phone which again he says went successfully. I was not there when he did all this but phone seems all good.
Except one thing. He has tried to install a couple of apps he had before rooting. Barclays bank app and Sky Go app. After installation these apps are saying they will not work on a rooted phone, but it's not rooted any more. I have booted into recovery using Volume down, power and home buttons and it says custom firmware / rom, I can't remember exact wording, but it says no. Also in the phone menu where a rooted phone says modified in device status it says normal or whatever it should say. Again can't remember exactly but all looks like no root present.
Anyone got any ideas on this? As I am rooted on my S3 and never un-rooted it yet, I do not know if he should have done something else. Will he have to root again to run triangle away or anything else. Or can this be fixed as the phone is at present?
Thanks for any help guys.
Cheers, Rich
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try doing a factory reset
Has it got a custom ROM or stock ROM? could be due to a custom ROM maybe?
Sent from my GT-P7510 jellybeaned up!
slaphead20 said:
try doing a factory reset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Good idea. Just so I can warn him, I'm guessing this will wipe the phone and he will have to re-run setup etc?
Three6ty said:
Hi,
Good idea. Just so I can warn him, I'm guessing this will wipe the phone and he will have to re-run setup etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, just looked on mine and confirmed my question above. It will wipe the lot.
danmorley0702 said:
Has it got a custom ROM or stock ROM? could be due to a custom ROM maybe?
Sent from my GT-P7510 jellybeaned up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a stock rom. Downloaded from the official rom thread on here
Three6ty said:
Sorry, just looked on mine and confirmed my question above. It will wipe the lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup, it wipes all user data and apps, let us know if it works after doing this
Hi,
My father did the factory reset today and it wiped his phone and he went through the new set up. However he still can't install some apps as they are still saying they do not support rooted devices. I just can't figure it out. Any ideas please guys. Thanks
Cheers, Rich
Three6ty said:
Hi,
My father did the factory reset today and it wiped his phone and he went through the new set up. However he still can't install some apps as they are still saying they do not support rooted devices. I just can't figure it out. Any ideas please guys. Thanks
Cheers, Rich
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One basic question..are you still able to go into recovery..vol up+power+home..if yes you are still rooted...you need to find your stock firmware and flash it via odin
check if it was a stock firmware your father flashed orcustom ROM o.follow this guide to do it again
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1710613
zoot1 said:
One basic question..are you still able to go into recovery..vol up+power+home..if yes you are still rooted...you need to find your stock firmware and flash it via odin
check if it was a stock firmware your father flashed orcustom ROM o.follow this guide to do it again
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1710613
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Just tried that and the S3 will not go into recovery via volume up, power and home. Tried several times and it just powers up as normal. He has just tried his banking app and it's telling him the phone is rooted. I'm stumped on what to do.
Cheers, Rich
Sounds like maybe triangle away didnt properly remove the count, was the firmware he downloaded the official one for his phone? Was it previously branded or anything like that?
go supersu and click remove root
Three6ty said:
Hi,
Just tried that and the S3 will not go into recovery via volume up, power and home. Tried several times and it just powers up as normal. He has just tried his banking app and it's telling him the phone is rooted. I'm stumped on what to do.
Cheers, Rich
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try redoing the steps mentioned in the thread??
Also clear data from that app..just a mention
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Hi,
He has superSu on the phone. Presumably it has downloaded from the play store when restoring the phone. However, he tried to uninstall it which just removed the updates. Couldn't go any further. It is now asking for updates which he has done. But when he tries to launch Super SU it says no apps configured and won't go any further. I think the fact that super su is on the phone, the apps are thinking it is rooted. I am doing this all over the phone so can't see what's happening.
I'm wondering if the way to go now would be another factory reset and when restoring everything, try not to let play store instal super su. Would this be the way to go, or can we get super su off the phone without a reset?
Cheers, Rich
Try uninstalling super su with titanium backup. Then factory reset. Are you sure you have flashed a stock ROM and not a rooted one. This doesnt sound right.
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Why not try reflashing again with original firmware via odin.
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zoot1 said:
One basic question..are you still able to go into recovery..vol up+power+home..if yes you are still rooted...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know there was something like that. Now I am on stock and un-rooted. I can still go into the recovery by pressing vol up+power+home keys.
Hi,
Trying to do these things with him over the phone ain't easy. I may just go and get the phone and do it myself.
He does have supersu on the phone and it is working, well it's installed anyway but obviously does not do the root things as the phone is un-rooted. There is an option in supersu settings to remove root but will this work as the phone is not rooted? Question is how on earth do I remove supersu. Do i need to re-root and remove it that way?
Cheers, Rich
yldlj said:
Try uninstalling super su with titanium backup. Then factory reset. Are you sure you have flashed a stock ROM and not a rooted one. This doesnt sound right.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't uninstall via Titanium backup as he is no longer rooted unless he roots the phone again. It is a stock rom. It was downloaded via the official rom thread on here.
http://www.unlimitedtips.com/2012/06/how-to-unroot-samsung-galaxy-s-3.html
This works very well for me

Reinstalling Entire Phone

Hi xda developers members,
I'm currently trying to reinstall my phone back to stock with just the stock files and nothing else, can anyone tell me how I would go about this? I just want the phone cleared of all apps and other files as I want a fresh start with it.
Galaxy is currently running Jellybean 4.1.1 rooted.
Thanks.
factory reset in recovery if you've not been flashing any custom roms/rooted etc...
EDIT - or just do a reset through the settings menu
mikep99 said:
factory reset in recovery if you've not been flashing any custom roms/rooted etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately the OS is rooted. Is that an issue?
EDIT: Thanks for the information, so if I reset the phone via Settings > Back Up or Reset > Factory Data Reset. This will wipe all the apps, files and the root off my phone and just leave me with the OS?
nope -
run triangle away first if you want to reset the counter
then flash a stock ROM firmware from sammobile.com - use ODIN to flash it.
then full wipe through recovery
should all be stock then....
mikep99 said:
nope -
run triangle away first if you want to reset the counter
then flash a stock ROM firmware from sammobile.com - use ODIN to flash it.
then full wipe through recovery
should all be stock then....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to all this stuff so bare with me on this!
1. Why would I want to reset the counter?
2. I don't mind the device being rooted, I just want all the files and apps gone, I wouldn't mind if it was just the OS and the rooted files. Would that be done if I did the Factory Data Reset?
Thanks.
Oh right, yeah, if you still want root just do a factory reset
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mikep99 said:
Oh right, yeah, if you still want root just do a factory reset
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers mate, much appreciated. I've just done as you've said and it's worked, hooray!
Now one more question if I may. At the moment, when I go and check for an update, it says "Your device has been modified. Software updates are not available"
This is a pain, as I don't want to loose my root, but I want to be able to update I guess, anyway to bypass this?
Im afraid not. You can still update through kies I think, but youll lose root.
The choice is basically root or ota updates..
Easiest thing to do is flash any new firmwares using ODIN then reroot using CF Root..
Or use custom roms..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
mikep99 said:
Im afraid not. You can still update through kies I think, but youll lose root.
The choice is basically root or ota updates..
Easiest thing to do is flash any new firmwares using ODIN then reroot using CF Root..
Or use custom roms..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough, suppose we can't have it all!
So when the next Jellybean update comes out, I just download the firmware from SamMobile, and flash it via ODIN. Sounds easy enough!
Thanks for all the help mate, once again it's much appreciated. Enjoy your evening.
Yep, thats correct.
Cheers, and you!
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Meticulous said:
Hi xda developers members,
I'm currently trying to reinstall my phone back to stock with just the stock files and nothing else, can anyone tell me how I would go about this? I just want the phone cleared of all apps and other files as I want a fresh start with it.
Galaxy is currently running Jellybean 4.1.1 rooted.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a function in the Samsung Kies Called "Firmware Upgrade and Initialization" which is located in the Tools of the Samsung Kies 2.5.0.
Fill in the information it requires and follow the instructions.
It will repartition your phone and install the new pure firmware just like it is a new phone.

[HELP] Unrooting and returning to stock.

Hey guys, I need to send my phone back for a replacement and wanted to know if there was any other steps that needed to be done other than odin back to stock and use Triangle Away to reset flash counter.
Thanks!
Reneg4d3 said:
Hey guys I just needed to know how to un root the device and set the flash counter to zero and any other steps in order for me to send the phone back for a replacement. I saw on Google where to do some of this - however is there anything else I need to do so that they won't know I have been rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read you'll find the unroot instructions that you use Odin for. As far as if they can find out if it's been unrooted, i'm not sure. I have insurance so if i ever need a replacement i am just gonna destroy it enough that they can never find out if i rooted it or not.
Flash the stock factory image via Odin. Install "Triangle Away" app from the play store and run it to reset the flash counter. One quick factory reset and you should be good to go. That's the quickest & easiest method I know of.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app

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