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:

 

[Svaethier]

the latest Commit "Slightly" Changes Elf Bowling , "Elf Bowling 2" now brings up its player mode select bot nothing else:/ Progress! i guess w/ that game

Incoming 'please share latest commit' replies now xD

 

[RocketRobz]

Incoming 'please share latest commit' replies now xD

A future TWLoader update will fix this.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

the latest Commit "Slightly" Changes Elf Bowling , "Elf Bowling 2" now brings up its player mode select bot nothing else:/ Progress! i guess w/ that game

Are these new latest "commits" unofficial? Considering that they could be just compiled versions of the current source of the bootstrap instead of a release?

 

[Sabishinbo]

So does it run like shit or what?

 

[Dracari]

Are these new latest "commits" unofficial? Considering that they could be just compiled versions of the current source of the bootstrap instead of a release?

yea latest commits to the card Branch, to add with it, viva Pinata now launches to a "Card has been Removed " Error w/ a cart inserted, still whitescreens w/o

like a bonehead forgot this is involving commit 5a3dd97

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

So does it run like shit or what?

Currently...ehh...kinda. There aren't many games working currently, and some that work do need either a cart with the same save chip type used by the game or do have long loading times (Even both, in the case of MKDS).

 

[Deleted User]

So does it run like shit or what?

It runs at full speed, although some games may have slightly longer loading times.
However, most games don't work yet.

 

[Sabishinbo]

Currently...ehh...kinda. There aren't many games working currently, and some that work do need either a cart with the same save chip type used by the game or do have long loading times (Even both, in the case of MKDS).

Lol, people waited months for this? Why bother when any phone is capable of running DS games thanks to Drastic.

 

[Dracari]

It runs at full speed, although some games may have slightly longer loading times.
However, most games don't work yet.

not really some games run rather slow (prime example being the Phoenix Wright games both loading And ingame. )

Lol, people waited months for this? Why bother when any phone is capable of running DS games thanks to Drastic.

Patience ist still really Alpha-level Software its going to take TIME for this to run Smooth (though it wont offer full compatibility much like a Flash cart can for a long arse time. this is essentially forcing the game to read from the Rom on SD instead of its hard coded paths to SLOT-1 and it will take said time to get every single game working , and flashcarts operate differntly by emulating the Slot-1 gamecard and just redirecting Data to it from thier MicroSDs (think of this bootstrap as cuttin the middleman of needing to emulate/simulate a Gamecard. )

 

[Naked_Snake]

Do this: https://3ds.guide/troubleshooting
(The DSI Restoring, Apparently it worked for a lot of people)

Just don't that even my dsiware 4 swords is throwing me an error please turn off
*even ds profile in settings threw me to home menu with a reboot error

 

[PRAGMA]

Just don't that even my dsiware 4 swords is throwing me an error please turn off

try uninstalling twlloader and twl side cia and then do the guide again and then try loading 4swords after a reboot

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Lol, people waited months for this? Why bother when any phone is capable of running DS games thanks to Drastic.

...Several points:
1. It's to boot the games from the SD CARD. Or in other words, NDS games in 3DS without a flashcard (or in the future, cartridges :v)
2. There is a difference between a emulator and a implementation to load cartridge roms directly to a 3DS (and the arm7/arm9 stuff)
3. That it does run in a phone doesn't matter at all in this, since as it was mentioned, it's a emulator that runs it.
4. Patience is a virtue, and the essential key for this. One can wait for updates that get to improve compatibility and stuff, as we did after we were shown about the WIP progress.

That said, I don't intend to start a flame war, discussion or anything. I just want to point out that saying that doesn't have a lot of sense considering it's damn impressive what the bootstrap does.

 

[Dracari]

@Sabishinbo if your too impatient to wait for this, then Use your phone or get a flashcard. simple as that, if you wish to see this do great things. " W . A . I . T ."

 

[Naked_Snake]

try uninstalling twlloader and twl side cia and then do the guide again and then try loading 4swords after a reboot

Just done that and I'm still getting an error I have no idea what's going on

 

[RocketRobz]

Just done that and I'm still getting an error I have no idea what's going on

Might be a corrupted TWLNAND partition, somehow.

 

[PRAGMA]

Might be a corrupted TWLNAND partition, somehow.

Thats what the guide fixes doe so its strange

 

[Svaethier]

@Robz8
https://joshuadoes.com/projects/3DSHomebrew/BUILDS/nds-bootstrap/bootstrap-dldi.nds
Is that latest commit? If so it breaks the games that are confirmed working in OP :/

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

@Robz8
https://joshuadoes.com/projects/3DSHomebrew/BUILDS/nds-bootstrap/bootstrap-dldi.nds
Is that latest commit? If so it breaks the games that are confirmed working in OP :/

That is the latest NORMAL commit. The CARD commit is the one that loads the commercial games.
To put it simply, some homebrew like NDS_TGM don't work with the CARD commit/release version, but do with the NORMAL/dldi one, while the CARD is compatible with retail games but it can be considered less compatible with homebrew.

 

[Sabishinbo]

@Sabishinbo if your too impatient to wait for this, then Use your phone or get a flashcard. simple as that, if you wish to see this do great things. " W . A . I . T ."

How long will you make these people wait before you realize that DS emulation on the 3DS isn't feasible? Better options exist. This is why no one is pursuing DS emulation on the Vita; Drastic and Flashcarts allow you to emulate DS games perfectly, and the former option can be pirated.

 

[Dracari]

@TheArcadeStriker ok i cant tell if it worked atm w/ teh offical 1.0 or the Dev commit (unoffical) but the Phoenix Wright games are saving, (needs a card, MegaMan Starforce 3: Black ace is a Compatible "Donor" card tested AA but its likely the first 3 will all work w/ it going to try Apollo Justice next.))