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:

 

[Joom]

What are the issues with 64KB?

Slow CIA installations, read errors, so on and so forth. Though I've seen someone say that 64 helps with this specifically, but I would rather not do that for the sake of the rest of the console. I guess one could use a separate SD card, but that's not really practical.

 

[solitonmedic]

*Waiting for gamecube 3ds emulator intensifies*

I'm laughing at your naïveté.

 

[zeldaism]

Slow CIA installations, read errors, so on and so forth. Though I've seen someone say that 64 helps with this specifically, but I would rather not do that for the sake of the rest of the console. I guess one could use a separate SD card, but that's not really practical.

GBA games also have major problems as well.

 

[metroid maniac]

GBA games also have major problems as well.

What sort of problems?
Apart from initially loading the ROM and save into memory, I didn't even realise AGB_FIRM used the SD card.

 

[zeldaism]

What sort of problems?
Apart from initially loading the ROM and save into memory, I didn't even realise AGB_FIRM used the SD card.

Video issues, sound issues, and framerate issues.

 

[Dracari]

Video issues, sound issues, and framerate issues.

could that be why verry few bits of Mother3 Lag like hell as a VC?

 

[zeldaism]

could that be why verry few bits of Mother3 Lag like hell as a VC?

I never played Mother 3 in VC but it could be.

 

[JCCG1989]

I never played Mother 3 in VC but it could be.

In which games did you experience GBA issues? I play many many titles and literally never encountered any issue with the embed VC.

 

[lonewolf08]

Video issues, sound issues, and framerate issues.

I don't have any issues with 64 cluster.

 

[zeldaism]

I don't have any issues with 64 cluster.

Are your GBA games Custom or Official? I have only played the official ones when I had my SD card set to 64KB. It's probably different with Custom games.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

In which games did you experience GBA issues? I play many many titles and literally never encountered any issue with the embed VC.

My SD card was set to 64KB when I played the following Official games: Kirby and the amazing mirror, Minish cap, and Metroid fusion. Mind you that was long ago. So it's probably different now.

 

[JCCG1989]

Are your GBA games Custom or Official? I have only played the official ones when I had my SD card set to 64KB. It's probably different with Custom games.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


My SD card was set to 64KB when I played the following Official games: Kirby and the amazing mirror, Minish cap, and Metroid fusion. Mind you that was long ago. So it's probably different now.

Yeah, maybe it was the issue.

 

[lonewolf08]

Are your GBA games Custom or Official? I have only played the official ones when I had my SD card set to 64KB. It's probably different with Custom games.

Official only, I have been wanting to play others as custom but I should finish the games I'm playing first.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Is that "Add SAV_PATH" commit adding experimental save support?

 

[RocketRobz]

Is that "Add SAV_PATH" commit adding experimental save support?

Yes. It only reads saves for now. It doesn't write to them yet.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Yes. It only reads saves for now. It doesn't write to them yet.

OK then. What you have to insert in the ini file to make the games read that certain save file? (I updated it with unofficial commit setting, but didn't modify the ini to make that appear)

 

[Garblant]

Yes. It only reads saves for now. It doesn't write to them yet.

Yes! Now I can finally bring all of my saves onto my 3ds! (When the feature gets implemented)

 

[RocketRobz]

OK then. What you have to insert in the ini file to make the games read that certain save file? (I updated it with unofficial commit setting, but didn't modify the ini to make that appear)

In the bootstrap .ini file, the .sav location should be set in SAV_PATH ("SAV_PATH = fat:/gamefolder/game.sav").

 

[metroid maniac]

In the bootstrap .ini file, the .sav location should be set in SAV_PATH ("SAV_PATH = fat:/gamefolder/game.sav").

Incoming TWLoader update to automatically configure this?

 

[RocketRobz]

Incoming TWLoader update to automatically configure this?

Yes. It'll even create the save file if it doesn't exist.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

BTW you need to have your SD Card formatted to FAT32 to make things like NeoDS and GBARunner2 to work?
I think the reason both of those don't work (And I tested both in a flashcard, works perfectly) is because seemingly my SD card is formatted to FAT. I could reformat it to FAT32, but IDK if there is a hidden partition in the SD Card or I need to do backup or something because I got games and stuff installed in it, and I have no idea if I have to back the files normally, back some more data by specific methods, or backing up the NAND along with the former stuff.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

It's also kinda odd. I tested the SAV_PATH to point it to the root of the SD Card for a "TetrisDS.sav", and a save file from TDS using TWLSaveTool accordingly (From SPP cartridge with TDS save). It still gives the "Unable to read the data." error, though I don't know if "Reading" the save file doesn't fix THESE issues, but the bootstrap indeed loads the save file (I will test Megaman ZX). EDIT: .-. I tried with Megaman ZX, aaaaaaand it doesn't read the save either (I'm sure I used the correct save)