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:

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Tried Nanostray in new commt and now stage loading times are like 1:20 minutes, or we could say that the commit does remove at least 30 or 40 seconds of loading time.

Plain huge improvement. Some 30 seconds more removed and after save redirection it could be outright playable with nearly (not without no loading times in the meantime, but that can be possible) loading times nonexistent!

 

[SlimPortable]

So i removed twl loader and reinstalled everything i still cant get into the castle but the odd thing is i set up everything on my friends o3ds and on his i can get into the castle on his same settings, files and rom but still cant get into the first world still get a white screen. Even if i copy eveything from his 3ds SD to mine i still cant get into the castle. The only difference is mine is a n3ds xl his is an o3ds

Holy shit this works for o3DS too? That's incredible, I'm so accustomed to everything super cool being N3DS exclusive.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Holy shit this works for o3DS too? That's incredible, I'm so accustomed to everything super cool being N3DS exclusive.

I think you missed that out for a LOOONG while, I was already enjoying this for a good time, and I have a O3DS.

 

[Zm1231]

Try setting bootstrap auto update to Unofficial, and re-launch TWLoader. There's a latest commit that should give a speed boost.

So i tried a different SD Card that i just formatted and was able to final get into the castle without a cartridge. Do you have an idea on cluster size that the SD Card Needs to be?

 

[RocketRobz]

So i tried a different SD Card that i just formatted and was able to final get into the castle without a cartridge. Do you have an idea on cluster size that the SD Card Needs to be?

Can you list the cluster sizes?

 

[Zm1231]

Can you list the cluster sizes?

1 2 4 8 16 32 64kb

 

[RocketRobz]

1 2 4 8 16 32 64kb

64kb will do.

 

[MorshumanKL02]

Oh boy! this is delishous ^^ i'm getting this cia rite now better start grabbing up those dumped DS games. and future updates for this too yayyy

 

[0080900]

Will this be possible on the 2DS or is it possible or what's the likelihood probability/chance of 2DS being capable of this/it?

Note: I've my still un-hacked small n3DS Mario edition. This is why I'd like to try this on my hacked 2DS instead.

 

[RocketRobz]

Will this be possible on the 2DS or is it possible or what's the likelihood probability/chance of 2DS being capable of this/it?

It works just the same on all 3DS models, including the 2DS.

 

[Chaos_Therum]

While running DS mode, there is effectively no firmware, just the game.
So no.

Okay thanks for the clarification. Though I figured there would still be drivers that could be patched. Guess I was wrong.

 

[elBenyo]

1 2 4 8 16 32 64kb

Use 32kb, not only is that the size Nintendo says but I've had errors using 64kb that went away switching to 32kb on an O3DS and a N3DS.

 

[Link_of_Hyrule]

Use 32kb, not only is that the size Nintendo says but I've had errors using 64kb that went away switching to 32kb on an O3DS and a N3DS.

Errors on the bootstrap or something else?

 

[umbjolt]

Update: after installing TWLoader 2.1:

Picross 3D from white screen ---> Load (stuck in preparing the game, do not shutdown the console or something similar in english xD) Will wait 10 min if it changes

 

[TinchoX]

~~ Deleted due irrelevance to the topic ~~

 

[ElyosOfTheAbyss]

Tomadachi Collection seems to work untill you need to make your mii.

 

[JuanmaHL]

Retro Atari Classics works with te latest unofficial build

 

[elBenyo]

Errors on the bootstrap or something else?

Upgrades and Downgrades using .cia refused to work in both, and caused a failed downgrade on my N3DS and I had to update it and downgrade twice before I reformatted the card. The 3DS just likes it better for everything.

 

[Link_of_Hyrule]

Upgrades and Downgrades using .cia refused to work in both, and caused a failed downgrade on my N3DS and I had to update it and downgrade twice before I reformatted the card. The 3DS just likes it better for everything.

Never had issues with any of that personally. Thanks for the heads up though.

 

[SuperDan]

i would really like to put this on my sons 3ds ... i didnt do a cfw on his 3ds .. as i idid not have a soldering gun .. when i last attempted to hack it ... can this be done with menuhax