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:

 

[seseiSeki]

Regression

• As donor ROM support has been removed, SDK3-4 (alongside SDK5) games will now need a donor cart with matching save type, in the DS card slot.
  Some SDK4 games, such as Zelda: Spirit Tracks, and the MegaMan StarForce games (2 & 3) will still save to SD card though.

Is there a reason why donor ROM support has been removed? I mean, isn't saving to SD kinda a major point of nds-bootstrap? Or did things change and saving to SD is not in the scope of nds-bootstarp anymore?

 

[soniccomcisbr]

I will be sure to not update for now. I have only 2 nds carts here

 

[laharl22]

I will be sure to not update for now. I have only 2 nds carts here

And my DSI used for hiyacfw have a broken cart port

 

[RocketRobz]

Is there a reason why donor ROM support has been removed? I mean, isn't saving to SD kinda a major point of nds-bootstrap? Or did things change and saving to SD is not in the scope of nds-bootstarp anymore?

Donor ROM was breaking compatibility with some games, due to the recent nds-bootstrap changes.
Also, we're not dropping the feature save to SD, as we can still do that on SDK2 and some SDK4 games, and patches for SDK3-5 are planned.
Donor ROM (aka MassCrassMethod) was a thing, only because save redirection patches for SDK3-4 weren't worked on (Donor ROM didn't work on SDK5, though).

 

[soniccomcisbr]

Donor ROM was breaking compatibility with some games, due to the recent nds-bootstrap changes.
Also, we're not dropping the feature save to SD, as we can still do that on SDK2 and some SDK4 games, and patches for SDK3-5 are planned.
Donor ROM (aka MassCrassMethod) was a thing, only because save redirection patches for SDK3-4 weren't worked on (Donor ROM didn't work on SDK5, though).

I hope for these patches, but in my case and some other uses its better to skip these updates and wait some time

 

[laharl22]

Wich bootstrap with donor ROM support are better for DSI and 3ds?

 

[seseiSeki]

Donor ROM was breaking compatibility with some games, due to the recent nds-bootstrap changes.
Also, we're not dropping the feature save to SD, as we can still do that on SDK2 and some SDK4 games, and patches for SDK3-5 are planned.
Donor ROM (aka MassCrassMethod) was a thing, only because save redirection patches for SDK3-4 weren't worked on (Donor ROM didn't work on SDK5, though).

Thank you for your answer. I'm glad to hear, that a better way of saving to SD is being worked on.
Just something by the way. how many SDK versions are there? Is five the last one, or are there even more?

 

[RocketRobz]

Thank you for your answer. I'm glad to hear, that a better way of saving to SD is being worked on.
Just something by the way. how many SDK versions are there? Is five the last one, or are there even more?

5 is the last one.

 

[SCOTT0852]

so which sdk need donor cart on dsi and 3ds?

3, 4, and 5. Before donor rom removal, 3 and 4 could use the donor rom to save (5 still needed donor cart).

Wich bootstrap with donor ROM support are better for DSI and 3ds?

The last one that actually had it (0.8) It has both DSi and 3DS support, so that's not an important factor.

 

[laharl22]

it will take longtime for save patch for sdk 3 4 and 5?

 

[Roboman]

Could you manually patch a donor rom into a ds game to get save support back for now?

 

[jahjab1226]

BTW Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star got a full english patch today and it works perfectly.

 

[piratesephiroth]

guys, you have to try the latest commit. I have no idea of what they did but all the games are getting loaded at cart speeds now, without noticeable pauses or stuttering

(replace the file in the _nds folder and configure dsimenuplusplus to use the unofficial bootstrap)

 

[RocketRobz]

nds-bootstrap v0.9.0-RC1: Cart speeds at last!
EDIT: RC2 released.

What's new?

• Cart speeds finally achieved for every game, thanks to @ahezard!
  This is achieved via FAT table caching and NDMA.
  Should work on SD cards with any cluster size. Some chinese cards may have low performance, though.
  In addition, async prefetching is removed, but this is not bad, as the games will still load at cart speed!
• Sound also does not pause/stutter while loading from SD, thanks to hooking into the halt SWI call branch, instead of vBlank/FIFO IRQs.
• Save redirection to SD returns to some SDK3 games! (e.g. New Super Mario Bros., Lunar Knights, Sonic Rush Adventure, etc.).
• DSi and 3DS versions have merged into one build!

Bug fixes

• You can now return to DSiMenu++ on both DSi and 3DS, by holding L+R+DOWN+B for 2 seconds.
• Sound should now work properly on all games on DSi/3DS running DSiWarehax.

Known bugs

• A few games may try to erase save data on the SD card, due to it thinking it's corrupt.
  Known game with this issue is Sonic Rush. Be sure to backup your .sav file, in case if it happens to your game as well.
• A few games (and some SDK5 games) that worked on the previous version, may not work on this version.

 

[SCOTT0852]

so wait... can someone try running mario kart ds and say if multiplayer works now because of the cart loading times? I don't exactly have my 3DS handy right now.

 

[RocketRobz]

so wait... can someone try running mario kart ds and say if multiplayer works now because of the cart loading times? I don't exactly have my 3DS handy right now.

Mario Kart DS always had card loading times, as it fitted into the 32MB of RAM.

 

[SCOTT0852]

oh, I thought someone said that only battle mode worked & actual races always disconnected.

 

[seseiSeki]

oh, I thought someone said that only battle mode worked & actual races always disconnected.

I didn't try if it still works for about four to five months, but I can definitely say, that it worked perfectly back then.

 

[JambonBeurreMan]

I am really looking forward to being able to play at full cart speed on the SD card and being able to save on the SD card. What a progress ! Keep it up <3

 

[NilremZ]

Hi, just made a account here to say that it's amazing !
Just tried some games that just would'nt run smoothly on previous release and they are really fine now (loading times, music...).

Many thanks, I'll be looking forward for next updates