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

soniccomcisbr · Aug 9, 2022

godreborn said:
Not all. Golden sun is one game that doesn't currently work with bootstrap.

Funny thing that game is running on WiiU virtual console and a lot of games not working on WiiU are running on bootstrap

MarioKartFan · Aug 10, 2022

I wouldn't bet against @RocketRobz and the team figuring out Golden Sun. This program is one of the most impressive pieces of homebrew I have ever seen.

RocketRobz · Aug 12, 2022

v0.63.2
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v25.2.1 (GBATemp thread)

What's new?

Because of the bug fix from v0.63.1, Mario Kart DS and Mario Party DS are now pre-loadable into RAM on 3DS consoles again!
- Mario Kart DS requires `EXTENDED_MEMORY` setting to be set in `sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap.ini`, or `Ex. ROM Space in RAM` in TWLMenu++ per-game settings menu.

Bug fixes

Fixed screen flickers in Animal Crossing: Wild World (and possibly other games that have been affected by the same bug).
Fixed AP-patched overlays not being cached properly when running a TWL title in DSi mode on DSi consoles.
- KORG DS-10+ Synthesizer no longer crashes with a red screen.
Worked around unexpected issues with card read DMA in DSi mode, by using the regular card read code in place.
- The proper DMA code is still used with ROMs pre-loaded into RAM on 3DS consoles.
More minor bug fixes.

Rya687 · Aug 12, 2022

godreborn said:
Not all. Golden sun is one game that doesn't currently work with bootstrap.

The Saga 3 remake is another example of a game that's still broken. It boots, but freezes a few minutes into the game. I believe it's still a mystery why it's not working. This software has a high compatibility rate, but it's still not at 100%. Also, some games that work still have non-fatal bugs. So I can't quite say this is the perfect way to play DS games.

MarioKartFan · Aug 12, 2022

Noticing some significant frame rate issues with GTA Chinatown Wars in recent releases of bootstrap. I know this game has always been a bit problematic but performance does seem to have been negatively impacted at some point.

RocketRobz · Aug 12, 2022

MarioKartFan said:
Noticing some significant frame rate issues with GTA Chinatown Wars in recent releases of bootstrap. I know this game has always been a bit problematic but performance does seem to have been negatively impacted at some point.

Have you updated to v0.63.2? If so, and there's still frame rate issues, try turning on Async Card Read in the per-game settings menu.
Although I haven't noticed any issues on my side. with the setting turned off.

RocketRobz · Sep 6, 2022

v0.64.0: Labor Day Release
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v25.3.0 (GBATemp thread)

What's new?

DSiWare playability on DS Phat/Lite is finally out of it's proof-of-concept stage, as you can now save your data, along with 100 titles now supported (plus a few more, if you're using a DS Debug console)!
- A custom .sav format is used for flashcard DSiWare save files (featuring a "save exist" flag and save size at the end of the file).
- Shantae: Risky's Revenge can now get past the first two battles using an existing save file!
- Scroll down to see which titles are now supported to play on DS Phat/Lite.

Improvement

@Pk11 and various: Updated translations and added Ryukyuan language.

Bug fixes

Communication errors should no longer occur in games with local multiplayer (ex. Mario Kart DS)!
Certain DS games no longer have issues with TWL clock speed!
Fixed some pre-loadable ROMs not booting (ex. Clubhouse Games).
Fixed some pre-loaded ROMs with the expanded space not reading split data properly.
- Mario Kart DS no longer crashes when starting the Mushroom Cup.
Fixed more DS games with weird arm9 start address not booting (ex. Spider-Man 2, Urusei Yatsura: Endless Summer, etc.).
Other minor fixes.

Known bugs

Not all DSiWare titles can save on the DS Phat/Lite, due to the difficulty of adding save support for them, and/or them storing more than one file in the save filesystem.
WarioWare: Touched! (DSiWare DL version) does not play audio on both DS retail and debug models due to it taking more than 4MB/8MB of RAM, using almost of the DSi's RAM.

Newly supported DSiWare titles on retail & debug DS consoles

Click here for the full list.

40-in-1: Explosive Megamix
Amakuchi! Dairoujou
Anonymous Notes 1: From The Abyss
Anonymous Notes 2: From The Abyss
Anonymous Notes 3: From The Abyss
Anonymous Notes 4: From The Abyss
Beauty Academy
Cake Ninja (Previously only supported on debug consoles)
Chuukara! Dairoujou
Fashion Tycoon (USA only)
Model Academy
Mr. Driller: Drill Till You Drop
Orion's Odyssey
Paul's Monster Adventure
GO Series: Picdun
Picture Perfect: Pocket Stylist
SnowBoard Xtreme
Unou to Sanougaren Sasuru: Uranoura
VT Tennis
WarioWare: Touched! DL

Newly supported DSiWare titles only on debug DS consoles

Dragon Quest Wars
Make Up & Style
Metal Torrent
Plants vs. Zombies

CrashMidnick · Sep 6, 2022

This is awesome ! I cannot believe that it is now possible to play Shantae on the DSLite

RocketRobz · Sep 7, 2022

CrashMidnick said:
This is awesome ! I cannot believe that it is now possible to play Shantae on the DSLite

and with rumble too!

Slinger · Sep 7, 2022

I've not tried nds-bootstrap before, but been curious to try it (and twilightmenu). Playing dsiware on a DS lite sounds like a real killer feature and I'm excited to try it! Can you give a newbie some info regarding Shantae? It seems I need to supply an existing save for it to start? How do I create it (since nds-loader uses some custom .sav)? Do I need to run it on a 3ds (with nds-bootstrap/twilightmenu) and copy the resulting sav? Does it need to have some amount of progress saved?

Also you mention rumble... Does dsiware like Shantae require ram expansion?

RocketRobz · Sep 7, 2022

Slinger said:
I've not tried nds-bootstrap before, but been curious to try it (and twilightmenu). Playing dsiware on a DS lite sounds like a real killer feature and I'm excited to try it! Can you give a newbie some info regarding Shantae? It seems I need to supply an existing save for it to start? How do I create it (since nds-loader uses some custom .sav)? Do I need to run it on a 3ds (with nds-bootstrap/twilightmenu) and copy the resulting sav? Does it need to have some amount of progress saved?

The save needs to be created by launching Shantae from a flashcard running in DSi mode (in my case, a CycloDS iEvolution), and then saving progress after the first two fights.
Since not many people can do this, I'll provide the save here.

Slinger said:
Also you mention rumble... Does dsiware like Shantae require ram expansion?

RAM expansion is not required for any of the supported DSiWare titles.
We have our own implementation of rumble implemented for the game (as well as Mighty Flip Champs and Mighty Milky Way).

CrashMidnick · Sep 8, 2022

RocketRobz said:
The save needs to be created by launching Shantae from a flashcard running in DSi mode (in my case, a CycloDS iEvolution), and then saving progress after the first two fights.
Since not many people can do this, I'll provide the save here.

RAM expansion is not required for any of the supported DSiWare titles.
We have our own implementation of rumble implemented for the game (as well as Mighty Flip Champs and Mighty Milky Way).

Unfortunately that did not work for me. I created a save on my side (launching my DStwo in dsi mode), saved with the guy in the city after the battles. I took the .sav file, placed it in the DSlite next to the Shantae .nds (.nds and .sav files have the same name) = the game does not see the save file (I can only select a new game).

I tried with your save file with both, European and USA versions : same thing.

What am I missing ?

Another thing, If I launch the game again from my flashcard using a DSi (and in DSi mode), the save works. On the very same DSi, if I launch the flashcard directly (so NO Dsi mode), the save does not work.

RocketRobz · Sep 8, 2022

CrashMidnick said:
Unfortunately that did not work for me. I created a save on my side (launching my DStwo in dsi mode), saved with the guy in the city after the battles. I took the .sav file, placed it in the DSlite next to the Shantae .nds (.nds and .sav files have the same name) = the game does not see the save file (I can only select a new game).

It needs to be an actual DSi mode flashcard. A DSTWO is a DS mode flashcard.

CrashMidnick said:
I tried with your save file with both, European and USA versions : same thing.

What am I missing ?

Another thing, If I launch the game again from my flashcard using a DSi (and in DSi mode), the save works. On the very same DSi, if I launch the flashcard directly (so NO Dsi mode), the save does not work.

Did you place the .sav file in the "saves" folder? If so, then idk why it's not reading the save file. Make sure both TWiLight Menu++ and nds-bootstrap are up to date.

CrashMidnick · Sep 8, 2022

RocketRobz said:
It needs to be an actual DSi mode flashcard. A DSTWO is a DS mode flashcard.

I missread, I thought you needed to boot with DS mode with DSi mode extra speed for some reasons : huge face palm in my head ^^

RocketRobz said:
Did you place the .sav file in the "saves" folder? If so, then idk why it's not reading the save file. Make sure both TWiLight Menu++ and nds-bootstrap are up to date.

Yes I did but it was my personal save (and it would not work according to your above comment about DSi mode).

I tried again with your save in the "saves" folder and now it works

!!!
I think I used your save in my rom folder (after trying my save in the saves folder), that is why it did not work.

Thanks for your support

Nekohaten · Sep 9, 2022

I know it's not a big game but, Im really happy I can play beauty academy again, it helped me through a hard time so I'm really thankful for the opportunity to play it again.

RocketRobz · Sep 17, 2022

v0.64.1
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v25.3.1

What's new?

B4DS mode: Tired of playing Mighty Milky Way and/or Shantae: Risky's Revenge on your DS/DS Lite without music? If so, you can now play them with music, by adding music packs for those games to `fat:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/musicPacks/`.
- The pack's filename must have the TID and CRC from the ROM's header (ex. `KS3E-57FE.pck`)
- The pack files are currently unavailable, but the creator can be downloaded here.
- This will only work with those two games. Other games are not supported.

Bug fixes

Fixed a regression which caused Pokemon Black/White to crash with a red screen.
@Pk11: Fixed Japanese font mapping in the in-game menu.

Known bugs

Music playing from a music pack will have slight lags. Depending on what's happening, the lag may be longer.
Music playing from a music pack will not pause when the game is paused.

RocketRobz · Oct 11, 2022

v0.65.0: Canadian Thanksgiving 10/10 Release
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v25.4.0 (GBATemp thread)

What's new?

A whopping 51 new DSiWare titles are now supported on flashcards in B4DS mode, making them playable on DS and DS Lite!
- An additional 7 are now supported for debug consoles as well.
- Scroll down to see which titles are now supported.
1 or 2 parts of the launched ROM can now be pre-loaded into RAM to work around slowdown, flickers, and crashes in some games.
- Settings are read from `sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/preLoadSettingsDSi.pck` or `sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/preLoadSettings3DS.pck`
- They can be downloaded from here. The above TWiLight Menu++ version already bundles them.
Adding yet another advantage over flashcard firmwares/kernels, screenshots can now be taken via the in-game menu in B4DS mode!
Text manuals can now be opened in the in-game menu in B4DS mode!
The help button is now hidden in the title screens of Mighty Flip Champs! & Shantae: Risky's Revenge when running in B4DS mode, as the manuals cannot be opened.

Improvement

Merged cardEngine9i SDK1-4 & SDK5 binaries to save space.

Bug fixes

Fixed where the patch offset cache version wouldn't save correctly.
Fixed WiFi crashing Bomberman Blitz in B4DS mode.
Fixed saving not working in Heathcliff: Spot On in B4DS mode.
Fixed an overlooked bug where the DSiWare version of Plants vs. Zombies would crash in B4DS mode on debug DS consoles after going into gameplay.

Newly supported DSiWare titles on retail & debug DS consoles

Click here for the full list.

Anne's Doll Studio: Antique Collection*
Anne's Doll Studio: Gothic Collection*
Anne's Doll Studio: Lolita Collection*
Anne's Doll Studio: Princess Collection*
Anne's Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection*
Bejeweled Twist (USA)
Dreamwalker
Electroplankton: Hanenbow
Electroplankton: Luminarrow
Electroplankton: Marine-Crystals
Electroplankton: Nanocarp
Electroplankton: Rec-Rec
Electroplankton: Sun-Animalcule
Electroplankton: Varvoice
Littlest Pet Shop
Lola's Fruit Shop Sudoku
Missy Mila Twisted Tales
PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff
- Audio does not play on retail consoles
Pinball Attack! (Part of GO Series in USA, Europe, and Australia)
- On retail consoles, it will crash later on in Stage 3
Plants vs. Zombies (Previously only booted on debug consoles)
Prehistorik Man
Puzzle to Go: Baby Animals
Puzzle to Go: Diddl
Puzzle to Go: Planets and Universe
Puzzle to Go: Sightseeing
Puzzle to Go: Wildlife
Real Crimes: Jack the Ripper
Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku 1 Nensei
Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku 2 Nensei
Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku 3 Nensei
Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku 4 Nensei
Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku 5 Nensei
Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku 6 Nensei
Renjuku Kanji: Chuugakusei
Smart Girl's Playhouse Mini
Tales to Enjoy!: Little Red Riding Hood
Tales to Enjoy!: Puss in Boots
Tales to Enjoy!: The Three Little Pigs
Tales to Enjoy!: The Ugly Duckling
Tangrams
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Tsubaki no Yukue
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Akenaiyoru ni
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Kadannoitte
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Rensa Suru Noroi
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Nakiko no Shouzou
Tetris Party Live
Turn: The Lost Artifact
- Does not save due to difficulty in implementation
Zombie Blaster
Zombie Skape
Zoonies: Escape from Makatu
Zuma's Revenge!

*As there's no photo album in B4DS mode, you must use the screenshot feature in the in-game menu to take a picture in Anne's Doll Studio.

Newly supported DSiWare titles only on debug DS consoles

Bejeweled Twist (Europe, Australia)
- As the USA version is already supported on both retail and debug consoles, this one is not counted towards the total
Electroplankton: Beatnes
Electroplankton: Lumiloop
Electroplankton: Trapy
Go! Go! Kokopolo
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ
Pirates Assault
Remote Racers

Post automatically merged: Oct 11, 2022

v0.65.1 (hotfix)

Bug fix & Regression

As the feature to pre-load 2 parts of a ROM into RAM has caused unexpected issues with card read DMA (ex. crashing), the feature has been cut down to only pre-load one part of a ROM into RAM. As a result, the card read DMA issues have been fixed.

Portal2player56 · Oct 17, 2022

i have an issue with a ds rom on my 3ds using twlmenu++. in the legend of zelda: the spirit tracks. when i talk to kagoron and make my way back to goron village the instant i enter the game crashes and bottom screen shows a red screen with a few lines of white "......" how do i go about fixing this? i am using latest version of twlmenu++ and i tested 2 freshly dumped roms of spirit tracks and same results....

Slinger · Oct 24, 2022

So... I finally got around to trying out Shantae on my ds lite. It runs surprisingly well - Good Work! Buuut.... I keep running out of ram ("Out of memory trying to allocated 257980 bytes in module FileManager.cpp, linne 120"). This happens every time I try to leave the village (using the save file you so kindly provided, @RocketRobz!), the moment I jump over the hole in the bridge.

I also run into the same issue (the exact same number of bytes) after starting a new game, when the screens fade to white after the first tutorial/fight. But I assume that is common (and why the save is needed).

Could this be due to my choice of dsi donor? I tried finding a very small donor in case it would free up some ram, but it didn't help. I'm launching using TWiLight Menu++ (0.65.0). Maybe I should try launching it without TWiLight? Or try an older version in case this is a regression? I've tried both the EU and US version, and they run fine on my 2DS XL (both when installed and when using TWiLight). Or maybe I should just accept the memory limitations, bite the bullet and get an DSi?

RocketRobz · Nov 1, 2022

v0.66.0: Halloween (2022) release
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v25.5.0 (GBATemp thread)

What's new?

25 more DSiWare titles are now playable on DS/DS lite, with 5 of those being the first to require the DS Memory Expansion Pak!
- Nintendo DS Browser is no longer the only official DS(i) software to use the Memory Expansion Pak!
- An additional 3 are now supported for debug consoles as well.
- An additional one is also supported for both retail and debug consoles, but requires Slot-2 RAM expansion larger than the MEP (ex. M3, G6, SuperCard).
- Scroll down to see which titles are now supported.
Increased compatibility when running from Slot-2 flashcards, as ROMs up to 32MB can now be played properly!
- A few (if not all) ROMs above that size may work as well.
Special thanks to @Pk11: The red with white dots error screen has been replaced with a new detailed error screen taking place in the in-game menu!
The in-game menu can now enter sleep mode by closing the console's lid.

Bug fixes

Fixed some weird red screen crashes which wouldn't occur in previous versions.
Fixed some overlooked bugs which made some DSiWare titles not boot in B4DS mode.
Fixed a B4DS mode crash which occurred later on in Pinball Attack!.

Newly supported DSiWare titles on retail & debug DS consoles

Click here for the full list.

Big Bass Arcade
- Will crash later on retail consoles
Cake Ninja 2
- Previously only supported on debug consoles
Castle Conqueror
- Previously only supported on debug consoles
- Only USA version is supported
Castle Conqueror: Heroes 2
- Previously only supported on debug consoles
- Memory Expansion Pak is required
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords: Anniversary Edition
- Previously only supported on debug consoles
- Audio is disabled on retail consoles
- May crash after completing a stage
- Memory Expansion Pak is required
Motto Me de Unou o Kitaeru: DS Sokudoku Jutsu Light
Music on: Playing Piano
Music on: Retro Keyboard
Nintendo Countdown Calendar
- Memory Expansion Pak is required
Nintendoji
- Will crash later on
- Audio is disabled due to memory limitations
- Memory Expansion Pak is required
Peg Solitaire
Puzzler Brain Games
Redau Shirizu: Gunjin Shougi
Remote Racers
- Previously only supported on debug consoles
- Memory Expansion Pak is required
Sokuren Keisa: Shougaku 1 Nensei
- Does not save
Sokuren Keisa: Shougaku 2 Nensei
- Does not save
Sokuren Keisa: Shougaku 3 Nensei
- Does not save
Sokuren Keisa: Shougaku 4 Nensei
- Does not save
Sokuren Keisa: Shougaku 5 Nensei
- Does not save
Sokuren Keisa: Shougaku 6 Nensei
- Does not save
Sokuren Keisa: Nanmon-Hen
- Does not save
Space Invaders Extreme Z
- Previously only supported on debug consoles
- Game can be played without the Memory Expansion Pak, but is required for bottom screen backgrounds to be displayed
- Does not save
Spin Six
Wonderful Sports: Bowling
- Will crash later on retail consoles
- Music is disabled on retail consoles
Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam
- Music is disabled due to memory limitations

Requiring Slot-2 RAM expansion larger than MEP

Meikyou Kokugo: Rakubiki Jiten
- Does not save

Newly supported DSiWare titles only on debug DS consoles

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
- Only USA version is supported
Puzzler World 2013
Puzzler World XL

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