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:

 

[soniccomcisbr]

@Robz8 did you get the issue from xroar for DS?

 

[RocketRobz]

@Robz8 did you get the issue from xroar for DS?

It white screened for me without a RAM disk.
Latest TWLMenu++ now allows using a RAM disk for xroar.

 

[soniccomcisbr]

It white screened for me without a RAM disk.
Latest TWLMenu++ now allows using a RAM disk for xroar.

I will try it

 

[soniccomcisbr]

It white screened for me without a RAM disk.
Latest TWLMenu++ now allows using a RAM disk for xroar.

The good news is the emulator is reading the ram disk folders. The bad news is the roms are not working :v

Also, I noticed the story mode from Retro Game Challange is not workimg again. However, its possible to play the games if you unlocked the free mode

 

[RocketRobz]

The good news is the emulator is reading the ram disk folders. The bad news is the roms are not working :v

Also, I noticed the story mode from Retro Game Challange is not workimg again. However, its possible to play the games if you unlocked the free mode

Try holding L after pressing A/START to launch Retro Game Challenge.

 

[soniccomcisbr]

Try holding L after pressing A/START to launch Retro Game Challenge.

Worked

 

[RocketRobz]

v0.25.3

What's new? (DSi/3DS)

• nds-bootstrap can now be run without an SD card!
  It should now work on CycloDS iEvolution flashcards.
  NOTE: nds-bootstrap has not been tested there, so it is unknown if it will work or not.
  
• Improved SDK1-4 game compatibility for R4 Ultra, if directly accessing it's microSD slot.

What's new? (DS)

• Renamed "nds-bootstrap-release.nds" to "b4ds-release.nds".

 

[peteruk]

Is there a comprehensive guide to getting this running from start to finish ? Anyone able to link me please ?

 

[Vulpes-Vulpeos]

Is there a comprehensive guide to getting this running from start to finish ? Anyone able to link me please ?

https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-3d...-ds-i-games-and-ds-i-menu-replacement.472200/

 

[peteruk]

https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-3d...-ds-i-games-and-ds-i-menu-replacement.472200/

I feel really lazy now for not looking hard enough

back in love with the 3DS even though I have a Switch

will have a good read of that guide over the coming days

Bless you for the link, appreciated

 

[gRuNt]

Hmm its probablly answered but I dont how to search for this issue, some games like Nostalgia and Lufia have this few mm high line on the bottom of the screens and on that line the image gets "repeated" its hard to read text thats near the bottom. Other then that those games run fine.

Anyone know if this is fixable ?

Thank you !

 

[RocketRobz]

Hmm its probablly answered but I dont how to search for this issue, some games like Nostalgia and Lufia have this few mm high line on the bottom of the screens and on that line the image gets "repeated" its hard to read text thats near the bottom. Other then that those games run fine.

Anyone know if this is fixable ?

Thank you !

It's a TWL_FIRM bug related to a race condition.
To fix that, press HOME twice.

 

[gRuNt]

Tnx !

 

[RocketRobz]

Bad news.
For some reason, Google isn't letting me give anyone edit access.
Just says:

Sorry, an internal error has occurred and your request was not completed.

Tried with both Firefox and Google Chrome.

If anyone knows what's wrong, please let me know.

 

[HaloBenish]

So I am getting "An Error Has Occurred" on the nds-bootstrap screen for a few games on my dsixl but they work on new 3dsxl.... Only differences seem to be nds-bootstrap and twilightmenu++ versions...

 

[RocketRobz]

v0.25.4

What's new? (B4DS)

• Proper arm9 hooking to IPC sync has been implemented.
  It's no longer hooked to vBlank, and all games save as a result.
• These games now boot:
  • Game and Watch Collection 2
    
  • New Super Mario Bros.
  • Sonic Rush
  • The World Ends With You
  • and some others I'm possibly missing.

Bug fixes (DSi/3DS)

• Fixed bug where first heap function would be patched for a flashcard game loaded into RAM.
• hb: bootloader is now moved to VRAM bank D, to fix graphical glitches in some homebrew.

 

[bahamut920]

So I am getting "An Error Has Occurred" on the nds-bootstrap screen for a few games on my dsixl but they work on new 3dsxl.... Only differences seem to be nds-bootstrap and twilightmenu++ versions...

It would help if you gave the names of the games that aren't working and the version numbers for your nds-bootstrap and twilight menu on both systems.

 

[HaloBenish]

The issues on my end were my 32gb sd card the 64gb I'm using now works perfect

 

[RocketRobz]

v0.26.0

What's new? (B4DS)

• Pokemon Conquest and some other 256MB games now load normally.

Bug fixes (B4DS)

• Fixed later SDK3 games not booting, such as Planet Puzzle League.
• Fixed Kirby Squeak Squad not booting.

 

[gRuNt]

Amazing ty for the updates !