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:

 

[Zm1231]

it worked on my n3ds with card.v2 release
i could also get to the first level ..
btw i tried the us version

Which Version of the US Rom did you try? the v0 or v1

 

[Svaethier]

I can't tell, though from all the duration I waited I didn't see any error screen.
You tested it with a unofficial commit, or with the official card.v2 release?

Official version 2

Make sure you use this:
Dragon Ball Z - Supersonic Warriors 2 (E)(Eternity)
Forgot mines EUR :/

 

[Zm1231]

I have tried multiple different versions of sm64ds with the official version 2 and even built the commits of bootstrap since then official version 2 up to commit 4b8002 and every single one i get the same thing i am unable to enter the castle unless there is a cartridge inserted into slot 1 and the first world doesn't load. How are people even getting that far?

 

[majoru]

Which Version of the US Rom did you try? the v0 or v1

i don't really know .. how do you tell which version it is?

 

[Zm1231]

i don't really know .. how do you tell which version it is?

im not really sure theres a few tools you can use to vew the rom version but i know there is 2 different version of the US rom that i know of but i just tried both of them and get the same thing as before can get in the castle with a cartridge in the 3ds other wise its a black screen forever. and the first level never loads

 

[Svaethier]

Children of Mana boots past logo screens but black screens afterwards, been sitting at black screen for about 5 mins now.
Hopefully next release fixes this problem with a lot of ROMs.

 

[Subötaï]

two more games

 

[LinkBlaBla]

is zelda phantom hourglass and spirit track tested??

 

[Svaethier]

two more games

You get a failed saving data error at title screen with Lost In Blue with V2 of card release
Ace attorney doesn't work with V2 of card.

 

[weatMod]

TL;DR so is this just a POC or is it planned to actually be developed into something practical with save support and better compatibility?
or are these just too many technical limitations

 

[Dracari]

You get a failed saving data error at title screen with Lost In Blue with V2 of card release
Ace attorney doesn't work with V2 of card.

it does w/ a post v2 commit, just much slopwer than PW3,

TL;DR so is this just a POC or is it planned to actually be developed into something practical with save support and better compatibility?
or are these just too many technical limitations

its planne dto be developed into something partical but it may never completly replace the need for a flashcard only time will tell.

 

[9thSage]

hm, hadn't tried it in a while, and compatibilty sure is getting better! Intellivision Lives works just fine now, and a lot more games at least boot up to some extend (Feel the Magic! works fairly well up until the end of the first mini-game...I think it hangs because of no save support).

 

[Zm1231]

i don't really know .. how do you tell which version it is?

I figured out the problem just encase anyone else has this issue. When i updated my twlloader it had a bootstrap.ini file in it that was loading bootstrap_card.nds instead of bootstrap_dldi.nds so if you recently updated twl loader check your bootstap ini

EDIT:

NVM Doing that still doesnt let me get into the castle and i have exhausted every option I have Tried Numerous Builds of Bootstrap with every rom version of sm64ds and not a single one will let me in the castle without a cart in the slot it just black screens. and if i have a cart in the slot i can jump into the first painting and select the 1st start but the level never loads. so i have no idea how people say they can get that far i have tried this on 2 different 3ds systems so honestly i dont think this game is working as people say

 

[dubbz82]

TL;DR so is this just a POC or is it planned to actually be developed into something practical with save support and better compatibility?
or are these just too many technical limitations

4 sentences into the original post is too long?

 

[DoArt]

Could we potentially get saving with just an sd card or is that completely unknown as of now?

 

[Dracari]

Could we potentially get saving with just an sd card or is that completely unknown as of now?

likely unknown at this time, thier priority is likley get games working as well as they can before trying to add save redirection

 

[DoArt]

likely unknown at this time, thier priority is likley get games working as well as they can before trying to add save redirection

Yeah, I suppose that would be best.

 

[metroid maniac]

likely unknown at this time, thier priority is likley get games working as well as they can before trying to add save redirection

Problem is that many games simply crash if saves aren't working.

 

[Mambila2001]

Just tried with Metal Slug 7, it gives a black screen. Warioware Touched gives a white screen and both have the H&S message before crashing (deactiving it doesn't change the results)

EDIT : After more than 5 minutes of waiting, warioware freezes at the title screen

 

[Chaos_Therum]

So out of curiosity with the ability to now install unsigned firmwares on the 3ds wouldn't a slightly easier solution or at least more compatible solution be to basically patch the firmware to redirect all slot-1 calls to sd. I'm not and expert by any means it was just something that came to me. Rather than patching the roms to redirect their calls basically just rewrite the functions that the rom is calling. Please correct me if I'm wrong figured it was at least worth asking.