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

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.

:arrow: Compatibility listing:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LRTkXOUXraTMjg1eedz_f7b5jiuyMv2x6e_jY_nyHSc/edit#gid=0

:arrow: The official Discord server for nds-bootstrap:
https://discordapp.com/invite/7bxTQfZ

:arrow: The thread for the recommended loader (by Robz8):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/twloader-ctr-mode-nds-app.448375/

:arrow: SRLoader for softmodded DSis (by Robz8):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/srloader-nds-app-for-dsi.472200/

:arrow: If you're more of a forwarder person:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/nds-forwarder-cias-for-your-home-menu.426174/

:arrow: Link to the releases page:
https://github.com/ahezard/nds-bootstrap/releases

:arrow: 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


Also, a video thanks to Robz8:


And another thanks to Alerdy:
 
Last edited by shutterbug2000,
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Click to expand...
I have hopefully small feature request: would it be possible to add a quick toggle for WiFi to the in-game menu?

I usually play with WiFi off to save on battery, but occasionally do have reason to use it and it would be nice to be able to turn it on right from inside the game instead of having to restart the DSi, search the setting, then boot the game again.
 
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RAHelllord said:
I have hopefully small feature request: would it be possible to add a quick toggle for WiFi to the in-game menu?

I usually play with WiFi off to save on battery, but occasionally do have reason to use it and it would be nice to be able to turn it on right from inside the game instead of having to restart the DSi, search the setting, then boot the game again.
Click to expand...
I don't see why you wouldn't just keep wifi on. It hardly impacts battery life.
 
Jayro said:
I don't see why you wouldn't just keep wifi on. It hardly impacts battery life.
Click to expand...
I don't like the LED glowing constantly, for one. It's also just that I prefer all optional features to be off on every device unless they're actively needed.

Oh, and for example in PKMN Black and White it does actually negatively impact the game performance when WiFi is turned on. I don't know what causes but it was still reproducible when I played it last year.
raxadian said:
Get an old 3DS, they literally have a Wifi button.
Click to expand...
I got my DSi specifically to avoid playing DS games stretched on the 3DS screens (or shrunk down for native res) so that won't happen.
 
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RAHelllord said:
I don't like the LED glowing constantly
Click to expand...

Use black duck tape, is what I used in my Gameboy Color and it worked wonders. It should work quite well on a old 2DS due to it being so flat. Less so on an old 3DS due to so many mobile parts but that one you can just turn WiFi off with a switch.

RAHelllord said:
I got my DSi
Click to expand...

Again, Black duck tape.
 
RAHelllord said:
Oh, and for example in PKMN Black and White it does actually negatively impact the game performance when WiFi is turned on. I don't know what causes but it was still reproducible when I played it last year.
Click to expand...
If it was running very slowly, it should be fixed in later nds-bootstrap versions.
Also, turning off C-Gear in that game should reduce battery usage.
 
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v2.8.0
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.17.0 (GBATemp thread)

What's new?​

  • Added AP-fixes for the following games:
    • Captain Tsubasa: New Kick Off (English translation v0.5)
    • Captain Tsubasa: New Kick Off (Repacked v1.8) (Patch required from nds-bootstrap-extras)
    • Inazuma Eleven 3: The Ogre (Full English Translation) (Patch required from nds-bootstrap-extras)
    • Pokémon: Refined Gold Overhaul (Coarse) (v4.1.3) (by @DeadSkullzJr)
    • Pokémon: Refined Gold Overhaul (Original) (v4.1.3) (by @DeadSkullzJr)
    • Pokémon: SoothingSilver Version (v1.4.3) (by @DeadSkullzJr)
    • Pokémon: Storm Silver Version (v1.1.1) (Classic) (by @DeadSkullzJr)
    • Pokémon: Storm Silver Version (v1.1.1) (Complete) (by @DeadSkullzJr)
  • @R-YaTian: Improved AP-patching system for patches to be applied to some more modified ROMs.
  • When trying to load streamable music & videos in some games, card read DMA is now forced in order to load them asynchronously. This only applies to DSi/3DS SD card users, and currently applies to these games:
    • Elite Beat Agents
    • Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
    • Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2
    • Pokemon Black & White Version 2
    • Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs
    • Sonic Colors
    • System Flaw
  • Added pre-load settings for the following games:
    • Code Lyoko (3DS): Everything except level-specific sound effects and video cutscenes
    • Code Lyoko: Fall of X.A.N.A. (MEP/DSi): Everything except sound data and video cutscenes
    • Stratego: Next Edition (DSi): Everything except streamed music
  • If a screen color filter and/or the DS Phat colors setting is enabled, the log (if enabled) will now notify you that a screen filter is enabled.
  • The log (if enabled) will now print out the nds-bootstrap version on the top.
  • Various: Updated in-game menu translations.

Bug fixes​

  • DSi/3DS: myNotebook Red, Green, and Blue will no longer crash when booted with Memory Pit.
  • B4DS: Fixed Paws & Claws: Pet Resort and Paws & Claws: Pet Vet 2 not booting due to a missing patch.
    • DSi/3DS: The added missing patch now allows the nds-bootstrap in-game menu to open for those games.
  • DSi/3DS: Clubhouse Games now boots with a screen color filter and/or DS Phat colors enabled.
  • DSi/3DS: Flower, Sun and Rain: Murder and Mystery in Paradise no longer boots with a screen color filter and/or DS Phat colors due to a crash which occurs later on (see this page for details).
  • DSi/3DS: Patched out Slot-1 check from sleep mode for known certain flashcards. (Moved from TWLMenu++.)
Post automatically merged:

v2.8.1 (hotfix)
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.17.1

Bug fix​

  • Fixed the AP-fix for Tomodachi Collection to work with the Italian Translation (Beta 2, as of this release).
Post automatically merged:

v2.8.2 (hotfix #2)
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.17.2

Bug fix​

  • Fixed a long-standing and formerly hidden bug (discovered from improving the AP-patching system) where some AP-fixes would fail to be detected. This fixes Pokemon HeartGold crashing when either loading save data or during gameplay (unknown if the fix works with ROM hacks).
 
Last edited by RocketRobz,
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v2.8.3
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.17.3 (GBATemp thread)

What's new? / Bug fix​

  • The following games will no longer need to be manually AP-patched first before applying a ROM hack and/or randomizer patch, and will also no longer crash on white screens on boot:
    • Chrono Trigger
    • FabStyle
    • Inazuma Eleven (non-Japanese versions)
    • Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard & Firestorm (non-Japanese versions)
    • Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! The Ogre
    • Pokémon: HeartGold & SoulSilver Version
    • Radiant Historia
    • SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu: Goddess of Destiny

What's new?​

  • Various: Updated in-game menu translations.
 
Last edited by RocketRobz,
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v2.9.0
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.18.0 (GBATemp thread)

Changelog​

  • Most games which contain STRM files contained in .sdat files and/or Mobiclip will now have those STRM and/or video files be read asynchronously to reduce/remove frame drops.
  • For many of the SD-related fixes to apply to flashcard users (such as properly working card read DMA), the LRU cache system is now used when running games from flashcards.
    • The ROM read LED settings now work on flashcards as a result.
    • This can work around crashes for certain flashcards.
    • Does not apply to Pokemon Black & White 1 & 2 due to the SWI Halt function not being hooked for flashcard reads, along with DLDI drivers not having asynchronous DMA reads.
    • Due to memory limitations, this does not affect users who are running nds-bootstrap's B4DS mode.
  • If the SD card the game is running from uses 32KB cluster size or more, the cluster size of the LRU cache will be increased from 16KB to 32KB, loading a bit more data each time a card read occurs.
    • This is known to fix some crashes in Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs.
  • Fixed NAND save R/W under 512 bytes not working correctly by loading the last read data into the LRU cache.
    • Due to memory limitations, this does not affect users who are running nds-bootstrap's B4DS mode.
  • Fixed a possible crash which could occur when trying to connect to Wii in Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver.
  • The following games will no longer need to be manually AP-patched first before applying a ROM hack:
    • MegaMan Zero Collection
    • Phantasy Star 0
    • Solatorobo: Red the Hunter
    • Style Savvy
  • Fixed AP-fix for Phantasy Star 0 (Japan).
  • Most of the black flickering no longer occurs in the Transformers games developed by Vicarious Visions.
  • If the DSi Sound app is set as a donor ROM for DSi-Enhanced games and save relocation is disabled, the donor ROM will be rejected.
  • Fixed Pokemon Black & White 1 & 2 not booting if a THUMB ROM (such as the standalone DS WiFi Settings ROM) is used as a DSi donor ROM.
  • Fixed card read DMA not being patched properly for a few games (such as Planet Puzzle League).
  • Attempted to fix possible issues occurring in homebrew titles by reverting the LRU cache transfer method from __aeabi_memcpy to tonccpy.
  • Yu-Gi-Oh!: Nightmare Troubadour and all Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship games are now blacklisted from using screen color filters and/or the DS Phat color setting due to slowdown in some areas and darkening issues from palette cycling.
  • Various: Updated in-game menu translations.
 
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RocketRobz said:
v2.9.0
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.18.0 (GBATemp thread)

Changelog​

  • Most games which contain STRM files contained in .sdat files and/or Mobiclip will now have those STRM and/or video files be read asynchronously to reduce/remove frame drops.
  • For many of the SD-related fixes to apply to flashcard users (such as properly working card read DMA), the LRU cache system is now used when running games from flashcards.
    • The ROM read LED settings now work on flashcards as a result.
    • This can work around crashes for certain flashcards.
    • Does not apply to Pokemon Black & White 1 & 2 due to the SWI Halt function not being hooked for flashcard reads, along with DLDI drivers not having asynchronous DMA reads.
    • Due to memory limitations, this does not affect users who are running nds-bootstrap's B4DS mode.
  • If the SD card the game is running from uses 32KB cluster size or more, the cluster size of the LRU cache will be increased from 16KB to 32KB, loading a bit more data each time a card read occurs.
    • This is known to fix some crashes in Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs.
  • Fixed NAND save R/W under 512 bytes not working correctly by loading the last read data into the LRU cache.
    • Due to memory limitations, this does not affect users who are running nds-bootstrap's B4DS mode.
  • Fixed a possible crash which could occur when trying to connect to Wii in Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver.
  • The following games will no longer need to be manually AP-patched first before applying a ROM hack:
    • MegaMan Zero Collection
    • Phantasy Star 0
    • Solatorobo: Red the Hunter
    • Style Savvy
  • Fixed AP-fix for Phantasy Star 0 (Japan).
  • Most of the black flickering no longer occurs in the Transformers games developed by Vicarious Visions.
  • If the DSi Sound app is set as a donor ROM for DSi-Enhanced games and save relocation is disabled, the donor ROM will be rejected.
  • Fixed Pokemon Black & White 1 & 2 not booting if a THUMB ROM (such as the standalone DS WiFi Settings ROM) is used as a DSi donor ROM.
  • Fixed card read DMA not being patched properly for a few games (such as Planet Puzzle League).
  • Attempted to fix possible issues occurring in homebrew titles by reverting the LRU cache transfer method from __aeabi_memcpy to tonccpy.
  • Yu-Gi-Oh!: Nightmare Troubadour and all Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship games are now blacklisted from using screen color filters and/or the DS Phat color setting due to slowdown in some areas and darkening issues from palette cycling.
  • Various: Updated in-game menu translations.
Click to expand...
Will this help with the random crashes that I got when playing Pokemon HG/SS rom hacks?
 
Viri said:
Will this help with the random crashes that I got when playing Pokemon HG/SS rom hacks?
Click to expand...
Those should already be fixed as of v2.8.3. If you're running from a flashcard (instead of the DSi or 3DS SD card), and the issue is persisting, then it is unknown how to fix the issue (aside from switching to flashcard kernel).
 
v2.9.1 (hotfix)

Bug fix​

  • Fixed an overlooked bug where reads/writes of NAND saves would not work properly for DSi/3DS SD card users (or flashcard users running with unlocked SCFG), and would cause WarioWare: DIY and possibly other games which use NAND saves to not boot.
 
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v2.10.0: Thanksgiving Release​

Included in TWiLight Menu++ v27.19.0 (GBATemp thread)

What's new?​

  • The screen swapping hotkey (hold L+R+Up+X for 1 second) has been readded!
    • To avoid continuous writes to the SD card after using the screen swap hotkey, the setting will save after 3 seconds. (Does not apply to B4DS mode, where the setting only saves via the in-game menu.)
    • The hotkey is now customizeable as well! It can be changed within the TWLMenu++ Settings menu.
  • B4DS: 11 more DSiWare now run on DS and DS Lite consoles, bringing the total from 480 to 491!
    • Absolute BrickBuster
      • Accessing free play mode causes a crash.
      • Does not save.
    • Discolight
    • Hakokoro
      • Audio disabled on retail DS consoles due to RAM limitation.
    • Jagged Alliance
    • Kuniya Burete Sanga Ari: Hills and Rivers Remain
      • Both a Memory Expansion Pak and VRAM-WiFi Donor ROM (such as Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals) required. If you have neither, then a debug DS console will work.
      • Requires TWLFontTable.dat (dumped from a non-Chinese & non-Korean DSi or 3DS console) placed in fat:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/.
      • Does not save.
    • Libera Wing
    • Nintendogs (iQue)
    • Puzzle Fever
    • Retro Pocket
    • Sagittarius-A-Star
      • Only the options are saved.
    • Sengoku Tactics
      • Master volume has been reduced due to the original audio playing loud.
  • B4DS: Removed Memory Expansion Pak requirement for these DSiWare titles by Digital Leisure!
    • 21 Blackjack
    • Match Up!
    • Mega Words
    • Word Searcher (Europe)
    • Word Searcher II
    • Word Searcher III
    • Word Searcher IV
  • B4DS: Music now plays in Neko Neko Bakery: Pan de Pazurunya! on retail DS consoles!
    • This was achieved by having the game stream the music files from the ROM instead of pre-loading the music files to RAM, reducing RAM usage as a result.
    • The same method was implemented for the above listed Digital Leisure titles in order for them to run without the expansion pak.
  • B4DS: To increase boot speed of DSiWare titles, the patched ARM binaries are not written to the page file, since soft-resets are disabled (console reboots or turns off instead).
  • DSi: Added ROM pre-load settings for SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS (USA & Japan).
  • DSi/3DS: Added ROM pre-load settings for SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS (Europe).

Bug fixes​

  • DSi/3DS: Reverted LRU cache block size from 32KB to 16KB to reduce both audio and wireless communication issues.
    • It'll be kept as 32KB for Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs due to some crashes being fixed as a result.
  • B4DS: Fixed a possible bug which could cause Battle/Combat of Giants: Mutant Insects to not boot.
  • B4DS: Fixed a long-standing bug which caused Dragon's Lair II (EUR/AUS) to crash on the company logos. Now both the USA and EUR/AUS versions boot properly!
  • B4DS: As a result of the MEP requirement being removed for Mega Words, some missing graphics have been restored.
  • B4DS: Fixed uncompressed FAT table cache still being created when end of file is reached, if an expansion pak is inserted.
    • Fixes saves not being read if an expansion pak is inserted.
 
Last edited by RocketRobz,
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v2.10.1 (hotfix)

Bug fixes​

  • Fixed a bug which was overlooked due to local testing, where B4DS mode (or running on DS flashcards) refused to work at all, and would only crash on white screens (with no nds-bootstrap and/or ESRB screen appearing).
  • Fixed disabling screen swap via hotkey (not the in-game menu one) not registering on ARM9.
 
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Hello, will the compatibility issue with Bleach Dark Souls be fixed at some point? It's been years and the same problem with corrupted save files persists, making it virtually impossible to finish.
 
masterz81 said:
Hello, will the compatibility issue with Bleach Dark Souls be fixed at some point? It's been years and the same problem with corrupted save files persists, making it virtually impossible to finish.
Click to expand...

You could make bigger save files? That does help in some games.
 
Getting white screen on DSi enhanced game Pokemon Black using hiyaCFW and NDSForwarder. Non DSi enhanced games are working properly. When I tried launching a DSi enhanced game (tried Pokemon White) that has no save file yet, I see the "Creating save file" message at the bottom before the screen goes stuck in white.

I can still launch DSi enhanced games using Twilight Menu
 
vincentjoshuaet said:
Getting white screen on DSi enhanced game Pokemon Black using hiyaCFW and NDSForwarder. Non DSi enhanced games are working properly. When I tried launching a DSi enhanced game (tried Pokemon White) that has no save file yet, I see the "Creating save file" message at the bottom before the screen goes stuck in white.

I can still launch DSi enhanced games using Twilight Menu
Click to expand...
This is a known issue. It should hopefully be fixed in the next nds-bootstrap version.
For now, if you want to keep using forwarders with DSi-Enhanced games, you'll have to do what's been stated in this post: https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap/issues/1885#issuecomment-3507147685
 
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