nds-bootstrap:

Thanks to the work of ahezard, Gericom, Apache, Robz8, _catcatcat, and shutterbug2000 and other contributors, we can now load NDS games from the SD card, without any flashcard/SLOT-1 card.

Don't expect high compatibility, but do expect many, many updates.

Compatibility listing:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LRTkXOUXraTMjg1eedz_f7b5jiuyMv2x6e_jY_nyHSc/edit#gid=0

The official Discord server for nds-bootstrap:
https://discordapp.com/invite/7bxTQfZ

The thread for the recommended loader (by Robz8):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/twloader-ctr-mode-nds-app.448375/

SRLoader for softmodded DSis (by Robz8):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/srloader-nds-app-for-dsi.472200/

If you're more of a forwarder person:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/nds-forwarder-cias-for-your-home-menu.426174/

Link to the releases page:
https://github.com/ahezard/nds-bootstrap/releases

Anti-Piracy patch list by Robz8
https://gbatemp.net/threads/ap-patch-preservation.477536/

Also, thank you to our testers:
Historian
JoshuaDoes
thejsa
Alerdy
PokeAcer

Spoiler: Videos

Also, a video thanks to Robz8:


And another thanks to Alerdy:

 

[Disharmony16]

Sadly Megaman ZX still not playable at the videos part with 1 fps per 10 minutes and Super Mario64 Ds with a black screen after you enter the castle.
But Thanks for the new update i really appreciate it

 

[raphamotta]

Mario and Luigi boots but freezes at Nintendo screen without card inserted.

No.. the US version boots, say card error and after press x or a it works after a long wait.

 

[Svaethier]

No.. the US version boots, say card error and after press x or a it works after a long wait.

It froze at Nintendo logo for me. Then again there's a bunch of different ROMs for each game on paradise site :/

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

@Robz But you need to install both CIAs to update it in the 3DS, or you only need to reinstall the main CIA.

 

[AutumnWolf]

It froze at Nintendo logo for me. Then again there's a bunch of different ROMs for each game on paradise site :/

same here, it freezes at the logo

 

[TimX24968B]

both lego star wars II and lego star wars: the complete saga end up with white screens.
(USA version)
EDIT: does a ds card need to be inserted for anything to work? (any DS card)

 

[Stack3r]

Super mario 64 loads in the castle for me, if I choose a level on bomb omb field it gets stuck at a white screen

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Sonic Rush Beta (card.v2): Boots and shows SEGA/Sonic Team logo screen, then seems to stay in a white screen. (I waited for 15 minutes)
Pokémon Dash (card.v2): White Screen (I waited for 6 minutes)
Metroid Prime Hunters First Hunt (card.v2): Shows the logos and plays the intro movie (with lag) and then stays in a black screen (I waited for 5 minutes)

I also retested Nanostray with card.v2and it could roughly be like 1:30 minutes between the booting, the logo to title screen transition, the adventure map loading (Because all those three events were like less than 1 minute), and the loading times to start a level (Sunahara in my case) are only 2 minutes. I consider it a great improvement for Nanostray loading times, as it took more before in card.v1

EDIT: Also, the transition to the Game Over screen in Nanostray is like 29 seconds (Pretty much 30). This is a great improvement for a 2nd version!

 

[Dracari]

commit 4b08002 Breaks Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue rescue team, BSOD's after Logos,

 

[RocketRobz]

commit 4b08002 Breaks Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue rescue team, BSOD's after Logos,

Wait 5-10 minutes.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Weeeeeeeee
Just tested Kirby Squeak Squad in card.v2, and while it took 5 MINUTES, now it works and shows the title screen! (and menu) It still requires having a cart inserted, as it now does actually boot the game instead of a white screen (It will error without a compatible cart).
Loading times can take some minutes for it, but at least it now actually boots and works.

 

[Svaethier]

Super Princess Peach boots to a 'data is corrupted and has been erased. Please press the A button' screen. So this definitely proves that bootstrap is progressing great.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Super Princess Peach boots to a 'data is corrupted and has been erased. Please press the A button' screen. So this definitely proves that bootstrap is progressing great.

Well that's right, but it's kind of ironic for me that specifically THAT game is the one I'm using to test most games (MMZX, Worms Open Warfare, KSS, Tetris DS).

 

[Svaethier]

Well that's right, but it's kind of ironic for me that specifically THAT game is the one I'm using to test most games (MMZX, Worms Open Warfare, KSS, Tetris DS).

Ah lol, that funny. Try to boot the ROM with the cartridge though to see if the ROM needs a cart to work.

 

[DeslotlCL]

what rom of sm64ds are you guys trying to run? If it is the (US) one switch to the (EU) instead and try to run it again.

 

[RocketRobz]

what rom of sm64ds are you guys trying to run? If it is the (US) one switch to the (EU) instead and try to run it again.

US version works for me.

 

[DeslotlCL]

US version works for me.

I mean, because the pal version used to work fine in some of the past commits and the us one didn't, so i guess the pal one should work better in the newest official release.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Ah lol, that funny. Try to boot the ROM with the cartridge though to see if the ROM needs a cart to work.

Well, the only one of those games I mentioned that currently DOESN'T need the cart is Megaman ZX. I also could try dumping the cart with Decrypt9 and test with the SPP cart to see if it does work with a compatible cart inserted (let alone it's own cart :v).

In other matters, I just tested Point Blank DS again, and now it brings a "Data could not be written" error. Currently searching here PBDS save chip type to see if I have a compatible game to test it.

 

[Svaethier]

what rom of sm64ds are you guys trying to run? If it is the (US) one switch to the (EU) instead and try to run it again.

EU does same thing as US one did, freezes after going into castle.
Blue rescue team took 4 mins to get to company logos,another 3 mins to get to animation before title screen, 2 mins to title screen music but nothing after that. Using US version if that too.

 

[Stack3r]

Lunar knights loads, but then it says data could not be written