nds-bootstrap loader: Run commercial NDS backups from an SD Card

BETA215 · Apr 9, 2021

Robz8, I've just read GBATemp's Project Spotlight and realized you took the enormous work of working on nds-bootstrap and adding features within your scope, without the main devs.

Big thanks for your courage in taking this complex challenge. Take all the time you need in improving nds-bootstrap, and don't forget to take good breaks when you feel you need 'em.

Of course we would like to see everything sorted out and working perfectly, but health comes first, and we have enough examples of people not taking care of themselves and ending badly.

Thanks again for your big work, and excited for what's to come

RocketRobz · Apr 20, 2021

nds-bootstrap: D⁽ⁱ⁾rectors' Cut

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.0.0

What's new?

You asked, we listened, and now the wait is over, and the day has finally come!
After years of playing DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Enhanced games in DS mode, whether it be on a flashcard or the console's SD card, DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode has finally been added (with some help from @shutterbug2000)!
- With DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode, you can play DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Enhanced games with features only usable on DS⁽ⁱ⁾ or 3DS consoles, such as faster speed, camera, and/or using WPA1/2 networks to connect to the internet.
- As a result, you can play all 5 of the physical DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Exclusive games as ROMs, which are
  - System Flaw
  - Foto Showdown
  - Picture Perfect Hair Salon
  - and the rest (which are exclusive to Europe)
- Also as a result, you can play some DS⁽ⁱ⁾Ware titles, such as
  - Earthworm Jim
  - Shantae: Risky's Revenge
  - The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords: Anniversary Edition
  - X-Scape
  - and more!
- NOTE: Due to most of the memory being used by the game, the in-game menu is disabled, and attempting to open it will cause the game to close.
Game region can be set for DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Exclusive and DS⁽ⁱ⁾Ware titles.
- NOTE: Not all games are multi-regional, so the feature won't work for some of them.

Bug fixes

The missing sprite bug in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem is fixed by turning on DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory now saves data.
Fixed sound in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, if using either DSiWareHax or forced DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode.
Fixed Trauma Center: Under the Knife not booting.
Fixed DMA reads to VRAM not working.
Fixed a bug causing potential crashes with ROMs loaded into the full extra RAM.
Minor code optimizations have been applied.

Known bugs

DS⁽ⁱ⁾Ware saving currently doesn't work, so some games may not start as a result.
When restarting Face Training, after successfully saving, it'll show that the save is corrupted.
In Hidden Photo, while a puzzle loads, it'll crash after some seconds.

Crunkbstrds · Apr 20, 2021

Guys, is it possible to get support for Retroachievements on nds-bootstrap? It would be so great to earn trophies for the nds Games. Am I the only one who wants it so bad?

Takeshineale128 · Apr 20, 2021

get a back screen when I load a save on Pokemon White version 2 from the SD in DSi mode and DS mode workers fine on a 3DS.
it white screen on me in DS and DSi mode on a dsi

RocketRobz · Apr 20, 2021

JosephNeale said:
get a back screen when I load a save on Pokemon White version 2 from the SD in DSi mode and DS mode workers fine on a 3DS.

This is a known issue.

it white screen on me in DS and DSi mode on a dsi

It boots for me on DSi. Try replacing your ROM, or turn off cheats.

Xzsalxpxoil · Apr 21, 2021

Can someone help me update from v0.35.1 to v0.39.0? Which files do I keep or replace?

Also, can DSi mode be set for individual games?

RocketRobz · Apr 21, 2021

Xzsalxpxoil said:
Can someone help me update from v0.35.1 to v0.39.0? Which files do I keep or replace?

https://wiki.ds-homebrew.com/twilightmenu/updating-3ds
https://wiki.ds-homebrew.com/twilightmenu/updating-dsi

Also, can DSi mode be set for individual games?

Yes.

Xzsalxpxoil · Apr 21, 2021

I didn’t have Twilight Menu installed before the update, just the nds-bootstrap _nds folder, but I was able to play my games. Would it be possible to upload the contents of the v0.39.0 zip file straight to the _nds folder without any trouble? Will my saves be kept from the old version? What’s the status of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for v0.39.0?

RocketRobz · Apr 21, 2021

Xzsalxpxoil said:
I didn’t have Twilight Menu installed before the update, just the nds-bootstrap _nds folder, but I was able to play my games. Would it be possible to upload the contents of the v0.39.0 zip file straight to the _nds folder without any trouble? Will my saves be kept from the old version? What’s the status of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for v0.39.0?

Yes, yes, and boots fine.

Xzsalxpxoil · Apr 21, 2021

How’s development going for 0.39.1 or 0.40.0?

RocketRobz · Apr 21, 2021

Xzsalxpxoil said:
How’s development going for 0.39.1 or 0.40.0?

Nothing is being worked on, currently.

TamarindoJuice · Apr 27, 2021

Anyone else getting black screen after the first title screen on Ridge Racer DS?

RocketRobz · Apr 27, 2021

TamarindoJuice said:
Anyone else getting black screen after the first title screen on Ridge Racer DS?

Try turning off card read DMA.

TamarindoJuice · Apr 27, 2021

Robz8 said:
Try turning off card read DMA.

Thank you, it worked! <3

RocketRobz · May 4, 2021

v0.39.1

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.1.0

In case you missed it... (See D⁽ⁱ⁾rectors' Cut changelog for more information.)

DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode support has been added, so DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Enhanced games boot with DS⁽ⁱ⁾ enhancements (ex. WPA1/2 network support, faster CPU speed, and camera)!
- As a result, DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Exclusives and DS⁽ⁱ⁾Ware boot as well!
Saving has been fixed in WarioWare: DIY!

What's new?

(@Pk11 and various) The in-game menu now has translations!

Bug fixes

Fixed a bug where Fossil Fighters Champions wouldn't boot.
NOTE: Due to an AP-related issue, it will not boot in DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode.
Fixed Final Fantasy III crashing when attempting to play the intro movie.
Fixed screen flicker in Sonic Rush Adventure and Sonic Colors during streamed music (ex. Opening intro).
Fixed bug in Hotel Dusk: Room 215, where black and green lines would appear. There will now be minimal to no lines.
Fixed slowdown in the title screens of Pokemon Black Version 2 and Pokemon White Version 2, when running in DS mode.
A card read DMA alternative has been implemented to Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games.
(@Pk11) Optimized .ini file reader, so the nds-bootstrap .nds file is now cut in almost half!

RocketRobz · May 16, 2021

v0.40.0
EDIT: Hotfix has been released.

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.2.0

What's new?

DS⁽ⁱ⁾Ware titles on the SD card are now booted the same way as Unlaunch and the DS⁽ⁱ⁾ System Menu boot them!
- As a result, saving now works, and DS⁽ⁱ⁾Ware compatibility is near-perfect!
- Because no patching is done, you can no longer use the in-game menu button combo to exit to TWLMenu++.
DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode is now usable on all flashcards booted in DS mode with SCFG enabled!
- Make sure nds-bootstrap is booted with TWL touch mode set (can be done by setting the Slot-1 TWL touch option in TWLMenu++ Settings), or else the Camera feature won't work, and may cause the game to crash.
- Trying to connect to the internet will cause either a lockup, or a crash.
- NOTE: This feature will not make DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode work on DS Phat/lite consoles.
(@Pk11) Custom in-game menu hotkey can now be set!

Improvement

(@Pk11 and various) Updated in-game menu translations.

Bug fixes

The card read DMA alternative is now applied for most games!
Saving now works in the EUR & JAP versions of Kirby Canvas Curse!
Fixed freezing issue in Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver Versions!
With IR support still being broken, Slot-1 is now disabled, regardless if the game uses IR or not.
- Fixes a bug where the game would exit when closing/opening the console's lid.

RocketRobz · May 19, 2021

v0.40.2

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.2.1

Bug fixes

Fixed Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time not booting.
Fixed crashes in Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.
- This does not fix the bug where loading a save file would sometimes crash the game.
Games now boot in B4DS mode from flashcards again!
B4DS mode: Hi heap has been shrunken further, giving more room in RAM for the FAT table, slightly increases compatibility, and fixes WiFi crashing the game without a Memory Expansion Pak, as a result.
Fixed bug where some DS⁽ⁱ⁾-Enhanced games (including the Pop Island games) wouldn't start via DSiWarehax.

Alexander1970 · May 19, 2021

Robz8 said:
v0.40.2

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.2.1

Bug fixes

Games now boot in B4DS mode from flashcards again!

Thank you.

I will give you Feedback as soon as possible,my Friend.

Alexander1970 · May 19, 2021

Robz8 said:
v0.40.2

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.2.1

Bug fixes

Games now boot in B4DS mode from flashcards again!

B4DS mode: Hi heap has been shrunken further, giving more room in RAM for the FAT table, slightly increases compatibility, and fixes WiFi crashing the game without a Memory Expansion Pak, as a result.

Perfect - works on both Flashcards includes the fixed WiFi Issue.

Thank you.

RocketRobz · May 27, 2021

v0.41.0

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v20.3.0

What's new?

Cheats can now be used in B4DS mode!
The L+R+DOWN+B button combo to exit a game has been re-added!

Improvements

Booting a game in DS⁽ⁱ⁾ mode is now slightly faster!
(@Pk11 and various) Updated in-game menu translations.
When soft-resetting a game in B4DS mode on DS⁽ⁱ⁾ or 3DS, the console now reboots instead of shutting down.

Bug fixes

Some game compatibility has been fixed! (ex. Lunar Knights, Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Big Bang Mini, etc.)
The card read DMA alternative (which caused random issues for some users) is no longer used, and has reverted back to the regular card read DMA method, while still a bit buggy, is less buggier than the alternative.

Regression

Due to the DMA alternative no longer being used, there will be a few lags and/or screen flickers returning in some games.

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