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:

 

[Disharmony16]

V0.1.0 is now available! Both homebrew and retail roms work!

Unofficial or Official?

 

[ItsKipz]

I think I'm shit outta luck I updated it at Xmas so he could play a few demo games... It's cool I have hacked every other console.. With 1000s of games... Win some, lose some I guess... But respect to you all for the info and tips

Just saw your post and wanted to mention that you can hack the 11.2 3ds now, just check https://3ds.guide/ and you'll be good!

 

[Dracari]

been a slight regression: Digimon World Dusk Alot more Lag moments and blackscreens after selecting your "Pack"

 

[RocketRobz]

I went and manually added some box covers but they didn't show up in the gui menu.

Are they named "name.nds.png"?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Unofficial or Official?

Official.
https://github.com/ahezard/nds-bootstrap/releases/tag/V0.1.0

 

[Aliceloveszubats]

so i believe im just a idiot. but how exactly do we add to the compatibility list. i assume id enter it at the bottom. but its in alphabetical order so that makes no sense

 

[RocketRobz]

so i believe im just a idiot. but how exactly do we add to the compatibility list. i assume id enter it at the bottom. but its in alphabetical order so that makes no sense

Right click on a title, and either click "Insert 1 above" or "below".

 

[Aliceloveszubats]

Right click on a title, and either click "Insert 1 above" or "below".

thank you very much!

 

[WarioTails358]

Are they named "name.nds.png"?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Official.
https://github.com/ahezard/nds-bootstrap/releases/tag/V0.1.0

Yes they were named name.nds.png but they didn't show in the menu, do they need to be a specific size? And do they go in the "boxart" folder?

 

[RocketRobz]

Yes they were named name.nds.png but they didn't show in the menu, do they need to be a specific size? And do they go in the "boxart" folder?

They go in the "boxart" folder.

 

[WarioTails358]

They go in the "boxart" folder.

But they still didn't show, do you know what size the images are?

 

[RocketRobz]

But they still didn't show, do you know what size the images are?

128x115.

 

[Yandere-chan]

What games can a retail MKDS cart be used to boot?

 

[Chuu]

stupid question - but how do you tell what the save chip type is? can you just tell by the size of the rom?

 

[Arcanuskun]

Latest unofficail build. Megaman ZX doesnt crash anymore on playing video, though the slowdown is still there. Hype for save redirection

 

[Karmic_Backlash]

I have a question about the Bootstrap itself, if this is reading the .nds files on the SD card as if it were in the card slot, why is there such poor speed and compatibility, i assumed this wouldn't be a problem because this isn't emulation but a redirection of the Card slot, whats causing these problems, it it the bootstrap not being very good at redirecting or is it something to do with the redirection not being perfect yet?

 

[metroid maniac]

I have a question about the Bootstrap itself, if this is reading the .nds files on the SD card as if it were in the card slot, why is there such poor speed and compatibility, i assumed this wouldn't be a problem because this isn't emulation but a redirection of the Card slot, whats causing these problems, it it the bootstrap not being very good at redirecting or is it something to do with the redirection not being perfect yet?

The main CPU on the DS cannot access the SD card slot. Only the sub CPU can. All accesses to data from the cartridge (which normally run on the main CPU) have to be patched and replaced with requests from the main CPU for the sub CPU to get it instead.
The communication overhead is what causes the performance issues here.

 

[Karmic_Backlash]

The main CPU on the DS cannot access the SD card slot. Only the sub CPU can. All accesses to data from the cartridge (which normally run on the main CPU) have to be patched and replaced with requests from the main CPU for the sub CPU to get it instead.
The communication overhead is what causes the performance issues here.

That sounds like a serious hardware limitation, does that mean we'll never have respectable .nds play?

 

[metroid maniac]

That sounds like a serious hardware limitation, does that mean we'll never have respectable .nds play?

It won't ever be as reliable as a flashcard, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. Only time will tell I suppose.

 

[Karmic_Backlash]

It won't ever be as reliable as a flashcard, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. Only time will tell I suppose.

Fair enough, such is the fate of piracy I guess.

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Just renamed some homebrew/demo roms (Table Hockey, SonicCDDS and NeoDS), and now TWLoader does work properly!
I will just start testing all the games with this new bootstrap official version!