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:

 

[takuma8takuma]

That kinda sounds like an AP issue. Check to see if a patch exists. If not, it may be a bootstrap problem but lately it's usually been the former.

I already checked DS-Scene ROM Tool for AP patch.
But there are no AP patches for "Momotaro Dentetsu World (J)".

 

[veryape420]

I’m having an issue running LoZ phantom hourglass with the newest version of nds- bootstrap. The game freezes with a black screen after the opening cut scenes. Tried multiple versions of the rom but they all freeze at the same place . Is there a fix for this?

 

[RocketRobz]

nds-bootstrap v0.12.3 (Rev 01): Fix for Unlaunch 1.8

NOTE: This does not make nds-bootstrap work without HiyaCFW or DSiWareHax (with GenericTWLPayload) on DSi.

3DS users will not need this, if one already has v0.12.3 installed.

Bug fix

• Fixed the L+R+START+SELECT and L+R+DOWN+B combos not working properly after installing Unlaunch 1.8.
  You need HiyaCFW installed, with the "hiya.dsi" (previously "bootcode.dsi") file on the SD root, and have Unlaunch set to boot that file with no buttons held.

 

[thelole]

Man, Last Window The Secret of Cape West is almost unplayable, do you guys had any luck trying to run this game? It's quite surprising, Hotel Dusk had some minor issues but it was fully playable.

 

[someguy12345]

Man, Last Window The Secret of Cape West is almost unplayable, do you guys had any luck trying to run this game? It's quite surprising, Hotel Dusk had some minor issues but it was fully playable.

If the game is going black randomly, it's an AP issue. No AP patch exists as far as I know.

 

[HaloBenish]

How do I use this on a 2ds or 3ds or new 3ds xl? I am hoping for 2ds if possible
EDIT: All of them I have on newest luma and newest ofw

 

[Vulpes-Vulpeos]

How do I use this on a 2ds or 3ds or new 3ds xl? I am hoping for 2ds if possible
EDIT: All of them I have on newest luma and newest ofw

Go here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/ds-i-3ds-twilight-menu-dsimenu-srloader-ds-i-menu-replacement.472200/

 

[kinder_bueno]

Does anyone have issues when running Kingdom Hearts 358-2 days? I am using different versions of nds-bootstrap but it always hangs on black screens after choosing new game, when it should proceed to the first cutscene in the game. I am using a patched rom.
SHA-1 of the clean and patched rom:
f40f9c226fa2e2b7b54e092b2cae73352ed31f86 4223 - Kingdom Hearts - 358-2 Days (USA) (En,Fr).nds
bb7061a3b5133a3bc5b8d2309a0031f272cb3cf4 4223 - Kingdom Hearts - 358-2 Days (USA) (En,Fr)_patched.nds

Please can anyone confirm whether some version of the rom works for him/her?

 

[RocketRobz]

Does anyone have issues when running Kingdom Hearts 358-2 days? I am using different versions of nds-bootstrap but it always hangs on black screens after choosing new game, when it should proceed to the first cutscene in the game. I am using a patched rom.
SHA-1 of the clean and patched rom:
f40f9c226fa2e2b7b54e092b2cae73352ed31f86 4223 - Kingdom Hearts - 358-2 Days (USA) (En,Fr).nds
bb7061a3b5133a3bc5b8d2309a0031f272cb3cf4 4223 - Kingdom Hearts - 358-2 Days (USA) (En,Fr)_patched.nds

Please can anyone confirm whether some version of the rom works for him/her?

Mine isn't AP-patched, and I've tried patching it, but failed, so I just put in an NTR DS cart to fix it.

 

[kinder_bueno]

@Robz8 thank you for the answer! I've tried and it does work - do you think that it is something which could be eventually handled by nds-bootstrap?

 

[RocketRobz]

@Robz8 thank you for the answer! I've tried and it does work - do you think that it is something which could be eventually handled by nds-bootstrap?

nope

 

[seseiSeki]

Wait a minute... Putting NTR Carts into the 3DS "fixes" (or better "circumvents") AP-Issues? I've never heard about that.

 

[RocketRobz]

Wait a minute... Putting NTR Carts into the 3DS "fixes" (or better "circumvents") AP-Issues? I've never heard about that.

Yeah, "circumvents" or "works around" are the better words.
Though if the game you're running is TWL, then a TWL cart should circumvent the AP-issues.

 

[seseiSeki]

Yeah, "circumvents" or "works around" are the better words.
Though if the game you're running is TWL, then a TWL cart should circumvent the AP-issues.

Whoa! That's some pretty big news. Is any NTR or TWL cart sufficient and is there still the risk of save redirection not working and accidentally wiping the data on the cart?

 

[RocketRobz]

Whoa! That's some pretty big news. Is any NTR or TWL cart sufficient

Yes.

and is there still the risk of save redirection not working and accidentally wiping the data on the cart?

The only games with save redirection not working are Kirby Canvas Curse/Power Paintbrush and WarioWare DIY.

 

[kinder_bueno]

@seseiSeki big news indeed, but do not expect it to "circumvent" AP issues like those in Mario & Luigi BiS

 

[Caleb Metzger]

I feel very ignorant but how do we know if a cart is TWL or NTR? If we just leave a DS game in the system at all times would that alone circumvent the need to use an AP patch on NDS Roms? For example I just leave Pokémon White 2 in my system all the time so will I never need to use an AP patch?

 

[RocketRobz]

I feel very ignorant but how do we know if a cart is TWL or NTR? If we just leave a DS game in the system at all times would that alone circumvent the need to use an AP patch on NDS Roms? For example I just leave Pokémon White 2 in my system all the time so will I never need to use an AP patch?

Leaving a cart in will not fix all AP issues.
To see if a cart is NTR or TWL, look at the bottom of the cart sticker.

 

[noctis90210]

Dec 25 and this project will be 2 years now, great achivement to see that devs of this project are working hard to increase compatibility day by day...

Anyway just want to ask if it will be possible to include a feature to load/detect external patch separate from the rom?

What i mean is rather than manually injecting the patch to the rom itself, will it be possible for ndsbootstrap to detect a game rom and detect a separate patch file and run those two files that will work like injected patch?

Thanks...

 

[bahamut920]

Whoa! That's some pretty big news. Is any NTR or TWL cart sufficient and is there still the risk of save redirection not working and accidentally wiping the data on the cart?

I mean, I'd personally recommend backing up your cart saves or using a cart you don't care about the data on anyways, just to be safe. You never know what could happen.