nds-bootstrap loader: Run commercial NDS backups from an SD Card

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

:arrow: 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


Also, a video thanks to Robz8:


And another thanks to Alerdy:
 
Last edited by shutterbug2000,

TLNiles

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I'm still trying to run Sonic Rush to ot much success. As it happened, the problem before was that I had my card formatted to 8 Kb cluster size. Now it's 64 Kb, and loading times sure shortened greatly. I also can enter Spcial Stage(attempted on 1st level), as well as leave it successfully after taking Chaos Emerald. I can also get through first cutscene, but it white screens instead of boss battle which should follow. All this with Sonic Chronicles cartridge inserted.
...oh, and it also seem to give me white screen instead of cutscene after I've got Chaos Emerald. That's weird.
First attempt (without Choas Emerald) was done on 0.1.0, after cutscene I was unable to proceed to boss fight due to white screen. Second attempt I decided to try and roll back to card2 release and on it I was able to get through Special Stage, but instead of pre-boss cutscene I get white screen.
 

dead_ish

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Hi there! I'm in need of some help... here's what's going on:
I updated TWLoader to 2.3, it worked fine, just couldn't find the roms because they were not in the right folder. I went through the app to see what was different and I changed the last option in the config to auto-update TWLoader. After that I put the SD back into my laptop, moved the roms, and put it back into the 3DS. Now when I open TWLoader it shows a message saying it's updating to the latest version, and after everything is "updated" the 3DS just goes back to the home screen. Does anybody here have a clue of what I might have done wrong or how I can fix it? Thanks!
 

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Hi there! I'm in need of some help... here's what's going on:
I updated TWLoader to 2.3, it worked fine, just couldn't find the roms because they were not in the right folder. I went through the app to see what was different and I changed the last option in the config to auto-update TWLoader. After that I put the SD back into my laptop, moved the roms, and put it back into the 3DS. Now when I open TWLoader it shows a message saying it's updating to the latest version, and after everything is "updated" the 3DS just goes back to the home screen. Does anybody here have a clue of what I might have done wrong or how I can fix it? Thanks!
The next version will check the latest TWLoader version properly.
 
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dead_ish

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The next version will check the latest TWLoader version properly.
Thank you! Still, I was wondering if there was any way to get it back to the way it was before, since it was working before I changed that option in the configs. I tried deleting the program using FBI and then reinstalling it, but I still get the home screen after the updating thing.
 

RocketRobz

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Thank you! Still, I was wondering if there was any way to get it back to the way it was before, since it was working before I changed that option in the configs. I tried deleting the program using FBI and then reinstalling it, but I still get the home screen after the updating thing.
In "sd:/_nds/twloader/settings.ini", set AUTODOWNLOAD to 0.
 

TLNiles

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@Robz8 , can you tell if with 0.1.0 bootstrap, you still white screens after special stage in Sonic Rush? Because again... it doesn't do that for me, but I get white screen before battle with first boss, and still can't figure out why.
 

Damin72

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@Robz8 , can you tell if with 0.1.0 bootstrap, you still white screens after special stage in Sonic Rush? Because again... it doesn't do that for me, but I get white screen before battle with first boss, and still can't figure out why.
I dont know what your problem, but after 15 minutes of world map with Dragon Quest 4 cartridge i can play Zone 2.
 

TheArcadeStriker

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What does that mean? Maybe when sighax comes out, there could be a higher chance for one, except even androids have trouble with the dolphin emulator
Gamecube > N64 > SNES > NES
The NES is emulated without problems in all 3DS versions. SNES is only OFFICIALLY supported in N3DS (And there are also emulators that run better in them), while O3DS wasn't given SNES games in VC, but you can play them using the Snes9X port (and BlargSNES). The N64 is not even emulated at all yet in any version of 3DS (OOT/MM and the PSX emulation doesn't really count, and even the PSP does have some problems to emulate N64). If it can't emulate N64 (or emulate PSX with acceptable, a.k.a near to fullspeed), then I absolutely doubt emulating GC would be possible AT ALL in a 3DS.
EDIT: BTW, this will be probably one of the most reasonable or polite answers to your "question". However, expect being mocked by some other people.


Just wait for Switch :3
 
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dead_ish

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I'm pretty sure everything I'm using is up to date, but when trying to run MegaMan ZX it's kinda laggy and the ctuscene is incredibly slow. Is it like that for other people too or did I miss something again?
 

Eastonator12

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Gamecube > N64 > SNES > NES
The NES is emulated without problems in all 3DS versions. SNES is only OFFICIALLY supported in N3DS (And there are also emulators that run better in them), while O3DS wasn't given SNES games in VC, but you can play them using the Snes9X port (and BlargSNES). The N64 is not even emulated at all yet in any version of 3DS (OOT/MM and the PSX emulation doesn't really count, and even the PSP does have some problems to emulate N64). If it can't emulate N64 (or emulate PSX with acceptable, a.k.a near to fullspeed), then I absolutely doubt emulating GC would be possible AT ALL in a 3DS.
EDIT: BTW, this will be probably one of the most reasonable or polite answers to your "question". However, expect being mocked by some other people.


Just wait for Switch :3
Yeah, I doubt it too, but does the vita have more power than a new3ds
 

TheArcadeStriker

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I'm pretty sure everything I'm using is up to date, but when trying to run MegaMan ZX it's kinda laggy and the ctuscene is incredibly slow. Is it like that for other people too or did I miss something again?
Uhh yeah, it's currently in that state since the first card release version, so it's normal (I guess that with laggy you mean the loading times, if it's not that IDK what you mean). However, there HAVE been some improvements, like while the WARNING message does have some loading times, it was really imrpoved since card.v1 (That thing took like 1 or 2 minutes)
 

TLNiles

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I'm pretty sure everything I'm using is up to date, but when trying to run MegaMan ZX it's kinda laggy and the ctuscene is incredibly slow. Is it like that for other people too or did I miss something again?
One of possibilities might be the cluster size of your SD. Check if cluster size is 32 or 64 KB, if not - backup the data from your SD and format it to one of those cluster sizes. It might possibly improve the performance, but I can't guarantee. For me it solved some(but not all) issues with Sonic Rush.
 
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Dracari

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One of possibilities might be the cluster size of your SD. Check if cluster size is 32 or 64 KB, if not - backup the data from your SD and format it to one of those cluster sizes. It might possibly improve the performance, but I can't guarantee. For me it solved some(but not all) issues with Sonic Rush.
whats better then overall 32kb or 64kb?
 

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