Homebrew [NDS] Forwarder CIAs for your HOME Menu

[RocketRobz]

Is it possible to change the banner(top screen) on the home menu?

No. DSiWare banners can't be changed.
If you're referring to the icons, right-click on the game in Forwarder3-DS, click "Import banner", then search for a banner .bin file.

 

[Funkymon]

Thanks for the forwarders. They worked great.

One piece of advice for other Mac users though, the default path info needs to be modified, otherwise it adds the volume name to the path, and loads the rom selection screen instead.

 

[RocketRobz]

Thanks for the forwarders. They worked great.

One piece of advice for other Mac users though, the default path info needs to be modified, otherwise it adds the volume name to the path, and loads the rom selection screen instead.

That piece of advice is for @Olmectron.

 

[Not_a_person]

If I do this wrong with the CIA will it brick my 3DS?

 

[RocketRobz]

If I do this wrong with the CIA will it brick my 3DS?

No. I would never post projects containing brick code.

 

[Mistah Spoon]

That's strange. Bootstrap should've loaded.
Is the "_nds" folder in the SD card root?

You betcha! It's in the root.

 

[RocketRobz]

You betcha! It's in the root.

Dunno why you're getting the "not found" error, then.

 

[Mistah Spoon]

Dunno why you're getting the "not found" error, then.

That ends it. Nothing we can do! It might be the 3DS itself, but I can't think of anything.

 

[StonedPurple]

TWL was working for me then I tried to set up forwarders, now every game launches with a white screen. Anyone have this issue? I'm on the latest updates of twl and bootstrap.

 

[RocketRobz]

TWL was working for me then I tried to set up forwarders, now every game launches with a white screen. Anyone have this issue? I'm on the latest updates of twl and bootstrap.

The latest bootstrap is the issue. The SD forwarder template needs to be updated.

 

[StonedPurple]

The latest bootstrap is the issue. The SD forwarder template needs to be updated.

Well, I tried going back to previous bootstrap and deleted forwarders but every single game still white screens. Do I just need to completely reinstall twl to get it working again?

 

[RocketRobz]

Well, I tried going back to previous bootstrap and deleted forwarders but every single game still white screens. Do I just need to completely reinstall twl to get it working again?

No. If using TWLoader, your games should still work.

 

[StonedPurple]

No. If using TWLoader, your games should still work.

Damn. I guess I broke it then. I didn't reinstall previous version of twloader if that changes anything. But literally all I did was update twloader and bootstrap, make forwarders, try to use them, nothing but white screen, downgraded bootstrap and restored NDS roms, still nothing but white screen. Maybe they'd be able to help me more in the twloader forum?

 

[RocketRobz]

Damn. I guess I broke it then. I didn't reinstall previous version of twloader if that changes anything. But literally all I did was update twloader and bootstrap, make forwarders, try to use them, nothing but white screen, downgraded bootstrap and restored NDS roms, still nothing but white screen. Maybe they'd be able to help me more in the twloader forum?

Try reinstalling TWLNAND side, and make sure bootstrap is up-to-date.

 

[StonedPurple]

Try reinstalling TWLNAND side, and make sure bootstrap is up-to-date.

Wow I feel like an idiot lol. That fixed it. I forgot I had to install the nand side CIA for the new version of twloader. Thanks man. Any estimate on when the forwarder template will be updated for the new version of twloader?

 

[LDigital]

I have tried this with 3 different Flash carts and all of them give me white screens after the DSi logo plays.

I have a R4i RTS & 2 different types of R4 Dual Core cards. None seem to work

When the Cia are created, I can ignore the .nds forwarder files it creates right? nothing in the guide tells me what to do with them

In the root of the different SD cards, what are the essential files for the forwarder to work and where should they be? Are just the created cia's supposed to be sufficient and then the roms?

When the sd card from the flash cart is in the computer to point the app to the roms, I presume that it knows that when launched from the cia, the sd will be back in the flash card at that point


Thanks

 

[Chary]

I made the .cia forwarders for my DS games, on my SuperCard DStwo, and once installed, they boot a DSi splash screen, but instead of booting the game, it just boots the DStwo's menu. What did I do wrong?

 

[IllegalKim]

　

 

[Jimbo_Slim]

I'm wondering if its my R4 that's causing the problem as someone else said its probably a knockoff.

 

[whostolemywaffle]

Remember the old days of having forwarder channels on your Wii that boots games from your USB drive or SD Card?
Ever wanted a way of launching full DS games like digital titles in your 3DS HOME Menu? Well now you can!
In this turorial, you can make forwarder CIAs that boots NDS ROMs from an SD Card (or if you want, a DS-Mode flashcard).

Requirements

3DS:

• Decrypt9
• A CFW that patches TWL_FIRM (Luma3DS)
• A CIA installer (FBI, DevMenu, etc)
• An SD Card (or microSD card for N3DS)
• (Optional) DS-Mode flashcard (aka, Slot-1 to microSD card adapter)

Spoiler: Flashcard list (skip if you want to use SD Card)

The recommended flashcard is DSTT.
If you want perfect game compatibility, get the SuperCard DSTWO. The downside is that it drains your system battery faster.

If you have a flashcard that works with @Apache Thunder's NTR Launcher, fell free to request it here.
Be sure to specify which build you're using (Normal or Alt), and if RESETSLOT1 is set to 0 or 1 in "sd:/nds/ntr_launcher.ini".


Compatible:
Acekard 2(i) (DSi-Enhanced games, including newer NTR games, don't work.)
Acekard RPG
DSTT
DSTT Advance
Galaxy Eagle
M3 DS Real
M3 DS Simply (uses <2GB microSD card)
R4 DS (Original Non-SDHC version, uses <2GB microSD card)
R4 SDHC Snoopy
R4 SDHC RTS LITE (Dual-Core should work) (2015 and 2016) (www.r4isdhc.com)
R4 SDHC Upgrade (www.r4i-sdhc.com)
R4i3D (www.r4i3d.com)
R4iDSN
R4i Gold
R4i Gold RTS (www.r4ids.cn)
R4i-SDHC (www.r4i-sdhc.com) (Normal and RTS versions)
R4iTT (www.r4itt.net) (Purple card may be incompatible)
SuperCard DSONE
SuperCard DSTWO (Normal and Plus versions)

Untested:
R4i3D NEW (Use R4iDSN template and pack)

Partially compatible:
Ace 3DS+(Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
Gateway Blue Card (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
EX4DS (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
R4iLS (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
Cards with www.r4isdhc.com.cn (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)

Incompatible:
CycloDS (i)Evolution (Can autoboot ROMs, but it works differently than other flashcards.)
(i)Edge (Unable to autoboot a .nds ROM)
R4 Gold Pro (www.r4i-gold.com) (YSMenu (not the forwarder process) bricks the card)
R4i3D (2012)
R4 Infinity Dual Core
R4 SDHC
R4 SDHC Dual-Core <2014 (www.r4isdhc.com) (YSMenu (not the forwarder process) bricks the card)

Windows/Linux/Mac:

• Latest Java version
• Linux: JavaFX

SD Card users: See what games work and what doesn't work:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M7MxYQzVhb4604esdvo57a7crSvbGzFIdotLW0bm0Co/edit#gid=0

Download a pack for your card (forwarders won't run without it):
3DS SD Card

Spoiler: Flashcards

Original R4/M3 Simply
Acekard 2(i)/M3DS Real
DSTT/R4i Gold/R4i-SDHC/R4 SDHC Dual-Core/R4 SDHC Upgrade/SC DSONE
Acekard RPG
R4iDSN/R4i Gold RTS
Ace 3DS+/Gateway Blue Card/R4iLS/R4iTT
SC DSTWO

and let's not forget:
Forwarder3-DS (Current version: v2.9.3)

also:
For hacks/translations of DSi-Enhanced games, find a fixed banner here. Also includes animated banners for DS standard games.

Source code for the templates (not needed):
https://github.com/Robz8/NTR_Forwarder/

For SD card

• Extract what's in "for SD card root" to the root of the 3DS SD card.

Spoiler: For flashcard

Extract what's in "for Slot-1 microSD" to the root of the flashcard's microSD card, and (if folder exists) "for 3DS SD card" to the root of the 3DS SD card.

What will be in each pack for loading ROMs:
Original R4/M3 Simply - WoodR4 & YSMenu
DSTT/R4i Gold/R4i-SDHC/R4 SDHC Dual-Core/R4 SDHC Upgrade/SC DSONE, Acekard 2(i)/M3DS Real/R4i-SDHC 1.4.x - YSMenu
Acekard RPG, Ace 3DS+/Gateway Blue Card/R4iLS/R4iTT, R4iDSN/R4i Gold RTS - WoodR4

Part 1: Decrypt9

1. Launch Decrypt9 in HBL or as a Luma3DS payload.
2. Select "Gamecart Dumper Options".
3. Select "Dump Cart" (full or trim). This will dump any cart's ROM to your 3DS' SD card, whether it's NTR (DS), TWL (DSi), or CTR (3DS).
4. After dumping is finished, press B.

Part 2: Forwarder3-DS

View attachment 72425

1. Select the target card you're using on the left.
2. Check "Automatically set ROM path" to set the path to where your ROM is at in the SD Card or flashcard.
3. Click the folder on the top-right, and find the ROMs on the SD Card (or flashcard) you are using, or drag and drop them into the window.
4. If you're playing a hack/translation of a DSi-Enhanced game that has it's banner/title edited, find the banner for the game below the Forwarder3-DS link, right click on the game, click "Import banner", and click on the banner to use.
5. Click on a game to do some edits.
6. Click the shuffle button
   
   if the TID is red. Clicking the shuffle button will randomly change the TID to one in the whitelist. Not doing so will not give you a .NDS/.CIA.
7. Be sure to make a list of TIDs you're using for your forwarders.
   
8. If using a homebrew ROM, clear and type in the game title.
   
9. Click the floppy drive button to generate the forwarder CIA!
10. Copy the CIA to your 3DS SD Card, or put it in SocketPunch for network installation.
11. Finally, install the CIA and launch it. If using EmuNAND, install it to both Sys & Emu NANDs.

You are now done!

After you extract the pack for your card, you can edit "sd:/nds/ntr_forwarder.ini" and change one of the settings. This isn't possible for Acekard RPG, R4 DS, and R4i Gold RTS.

• NTRCLOCK: If set to 0 or if A is held, the DSi boot screen will appear instead of the normal DS splash, and TWL clock speed is used, so lags begone.
• DISABLEANIMATION: If set to 1 or if B is held, the DS/DSi boot screen is skipped.
• HEALTHSAFETYMSG: If set to 1, the boot screen's H&S message will appear on the bottom screen. If set to 0, the bottom screen stays white with no H&S message.

Here's a video tutorial and a forwarder in action! (This was before we were able to run retail ROMs from SD Card.


Credits:
@Olmectron, for making Forwarder3-DS.
Me, for creating the Auto-Boot ROM Path setter for DSTT/R4i Gold/R4i-SDHC/R4 SDHC Dual-Core/R4 SDHC Upgrade/SC DSONE, Acekard 2(i)/R4iTT, and DSTWO.
@ahezard, for making the R4/M3, Acekard RPG, R4iDSN/R4i Gold RTS forwarder templates, and nds-bootstrap.
@Apache Thunder, for recreating the DS/DSi boot screen.
@MasterCheese, for helping me getting the Ace3DS Plus, Gateway Blue Card, and cards with www.r4isdhc.com.cn to work.


FAQs:

Q (Linux users): Why is Forwarder3-DS not starting?
A: Install JavaFX.

Q: I'm not getting a CIA, just a .nds file. Why?
A1: Make sure your ROM's .nds filename is short, and/or create Forwarder3-DS folder in your hard drive (or flash drive) root, and run the .jar file there.
A2 (Linux and MacOS users): Execute chmod +x make_cia in the terminal on the .jar file's directory, so that make_cia gets the needed rights to be executed.

Q: How do I update the forwarder templates?
A: The app will automatically update the templates if it's set, or you can click the button next to the Forwarder3-DS title, and click "Update templates".

Q: How do I get rid of lag on games?
A: Hold A before the DS boot screen appears, or open "sd:/nds/ntr_forwarder.ini" and set
NTRCLOCK to 0 to use TWL clock speed.

Q: Why aren't some of my forwarders appearing?
A: You went over the 40 DSiWare game limit. Copy any DSiWare/forwarder you don't use, to your SD Card, and delete it from System Memory.

Q: Will the game I'm playing show up in Activity Log?
A: Yes it will!

Q: What games are DSi Enhanced (have animated banners)?
A: Look here.

Q: Why am I taken to a ROM selection menu?
A: Make "Games are on SD card" was checked, and you dragged and dropped the ROMs from the flashcard's microSD, to Forwarder3-DS' window.

Q: Will this load DSi enhanced games in DSi mode, including DSi exclusive games?
A: Nope, but maybe someday, when we're able to run commercial/retail ROMs from the 3DS SD Card.

Q: Why is the banner/title blank?
A: Follow step 5 of the Forwarder3-DS section.

Q: How do I use cheat codes?
A: Use this program.

Spoiler: FAQs: Flashcards

R4 DS/M3 DS Simply, R4iDSN/Acekard RPG/R4i Gold RTS:

Q: Why are some of my games getting white screens?
A: The forwarders are based on an outdated version of Wood, which had it's source code found. The version used has bad compatibility with some games. Open _wfwd/wfwd.ini, and set useLatestWood to 1.


DSTT/R4i Gold/R4i-SDHC/R4 SDHC Dual-Core/R4 SDHC Upgrade/SC DSONE, M3DS Real:

Q: Why does my game freeze sometimes?
A: The game has Anti-Piracy checks. YSMenu is supposed to fix that, but won't for some reason.

Q: Launching the CIA just takes me to the ROM selection menu. How do I fix that?
A: Delete or rename any existing YSMenu.ini file in the YSMenu and root folders/directories.

Q: How do I skip to the ROM selection menu?
A: When booting YSMenu, hold B to go to the ROM selection menu.

Q: Why am I getting:
[Rom Loading failed]
load rom errcode=-
Please reset system.
A: Look at the YSMenu error code guide.

when i go to dump it it says no cart found when i have dscraft on it