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:

 

[TLNiles]

Unofficial build seems to be completely broken as of now, so yeah. Being stuck in this debug line for a while.

 

[Link_of_Hyrule]

Yeah I tried running SM54 DS and it white screened so guessing it's broken for now. He just merged in DLDI stuff so it's probably still a work in progress to make sure both DLDI and regular roms work correctly.

 

[TJHeartnote]

Just let me know when pokémon gen 4 works.

 

[RocketRobz]

Yeah I tried running SM54 DS and it white screened so guessing it's broken for now. He just merged in DLDI stuff so it's probably still a work in progress to make sure both DLDI and regular roms work correctly.

The last working commit is c0d5783, and the commit after that one is when it started to not run roms.

 

[WarioTails358]

Will there be a option to set whether you want to download the boxart for games when twloader starts?

 

[RocketRobz]

Will there be a option to set whether you want to download the boxart for games when twloader starts?

Why?

 

[Aditzu]

Will there be a option to set whether you want to download the boxart for games when twloader starts?

You have to put them manually in the boxart folder on the sd card.I don't think you will be able to download them automatically through twloader.

 

[RocketRobz]

You have to put them manually in the boxart folder on the sd card.I don't think you will be able to download them automatically through twloader.

You can now, in the latest version.

 

[DualBladedKirito]

Is there a plan to implement soft resetting so we don't have close and reopen TWLoader when we want to change games?

 

[RocketRobz]

Is there a plan to implement soft resetting so we don't have close and reopen TWLoader when we want to change games?

You can soft-reset by pressing L+R+START+SELECT, even on official carts.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

You can soft-reset by pressing L+R+START+SELECT, even on official carts.

Uhh, I noticed something after installing the latest TWLoader.
It keeps sending me to a error message in the home menu and then it resets. Trying to load it after that after the updating screens, it will stay in a unresponsive black screen. Will try updating LumaCFW to see if it fixes it out. (BTW I also tried updating and installing both TWLoader normal cia and TWLnand side cia)

 

[Dracari]

Uhh, I noticed something after installing the latest TWLoader.
It keeps sending me to a error message in the home menu and then it resets. Trying to load it after that after the updating screens, it will stay in a unresponsive black screen. Will try updating LumaCFW to see if it fixes it out. (BTW I also tried updating and installing both TWLoader normal cia and TWLnand side cia)

o've been thinking it was my SD the hole time either something about AMMOUNT of roms or a CORRUPTED rom is teh culprit, i reduce dto 3 miods and this went away.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

o've been thinking it was my SD the hole time either something about AMMOUNT of roms or a CORRUPTED rom is teh culprit, i reduce dto 3 miods and this went away.

Well, will try that soon, updated Luma3DS CFW and trying right now again. BTW it worked without problems before I updated, so IDK about this.
EDIT: Nope, it doesn't work with Luma updated. Will try removing some roms to see if it works now.

 

[Link_of_Hyrule]

You can soft-reset by pressing L+R+START+SELECT, even on official carts.

There are new commits have you tried those? He renamed bootstrap.nds to dldi-bootstrap.nds so what should it be in the nds-bootstrap.ini?

 

[DualBladedKirito]

You can soft-reset by pressing L+R+START+SELECT, even on official carts.

Sorry i misspoke. I mean a way to return to the rom selection screen. It Would be convenient for when a rom whitescreens too.

 

[RocketRobz]

There are new commits have you tried those? He renamed bootstrap.nds to dldi-bootstrap.nds so what should it be in the nds-bootstrap.ini?

The latest commit works. Both retail and homebrew roms work.
In "nds-bootstrap.ini", BOOTSTRAP_PATH should be "fat:/_nds/bootstrap.nds".

Sorry i misspoke. I mean a way to return to the rom selection screen. It Would be convenient for when a rom whitescreens too.

Nope. TWL_FIRM will have to be modified for that.

 

[Link_of_Hyrule]

The latest commit works. Both retail and homebrew roms work.
In "nds-bootstrap.ini", BOOTSTRAP_PATH should be "fat:/_nds/bootstrap.nds".

Nope. TWL_FIRM will have to be modified for that.

I guess the updater updated the bootstrap-card.nds it seems. But I'm guessing in the next update the other file will go away so it'll change. Maybe just keep it named bootstrap-card.nds card anyways so it doesn't break people's installs since unless you changed it the updater doesn't update the ini file.

 

[RocketRobz]

I guess the updater updated the bootstrap-card.nds it seems. But I'm guessing in the next update the other file will go away so it'll change. Maybe just keep it named bootstrap-card.nds card anyways so it doesn't break people's installs since unless you changed it the updater doesn't update the ini file.

I already released the next update. It's listed that the "nds-bootstrap.ini" file changed.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

I already released the next update. It's listed that the "nds-bootstrap.ini" file changed.

Any idea about the error message?
As I mentioned before, the latest version does give one after it does update the bootstrap. I will try 2.2.1 just in case, and it did work before with I think it was 2.0.1, so I don't know about that I changed anything to screw it up.

 

[Dracari]

Any idea about the error message?
As I mentioned before, the latest version does give one after it does update the bootstrap. I will try 2.2.1 just in case, and it did work before with I think it was 2.0.1, so I don't know about that I changed anything to screw it up.

did ya try reducing your # of roms?