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:

 

[Enryx25]

nds-bootstrap v0.9.0-RC1: Cart speeds at last!
EDIT: RC2 released.

What's new?

• Cart speeds finally achieved for every game, thanks to @ahezard!
  This is achieved via FAT table caching and NDMA.
  Should work on SD cards with any cluster size. Some chinese cards may have low performance, though.
  In addition, async prefetching is removed, but this is not bad, as the games will still load at cart speed!
• Sound also does not pause/stutter while loading from SD, thanks to hooking into the halt SWI call branch, instead of vBlank/FIFO IRQs.
• Save redirection to SD returns to some SDK3 games! (e.g. New Super Mario Bros., Lunar Knights, Sonic Rush Adventure, etc.).
• DSi and 3DS versions have merged into one build!

Bug fixes

• You can now return to DSiMenu++ on both DSi and 3DS, by holding L+R+DOWN+B for 2 seconds.
• Sound should now work properly on all games on DSi/3DS running DSiWarehax.

Known bugs

• A few games may try to erase save data on the SD card, due to it thinking it's corrupt.
  Known game with this issue is Sonic Rush. Be sure to backup your .sav file, in case if it happens to your game as well.
• A few games (and some SDK5 games) that worked on the previous version, may not work on this version.

Does this mean every game is compatible now?

 

[RocketRobz]

Does this mean every game is compatible now?

Nope.
Thumb games (Diddy Kong Racing, Star Fox Command, etc.) still need to be worked on.

 

[Flame]

goddamn the latest version is so good.

pure magic.

 

[piratesephiroth]

nds-bootstrap v0.9.0-RC1: Cart speeds at last!

What's new?

• Cart speeds finally achieved for every game, thanks to @ahezard!
  This is achieved via FAT table caching and NDMA.
  Should work on SD cards with any cluster size. Some chinese cards may have low performance, though.
  In addition, async prefetching is removed, but this is not bad, as the games will still load at cart speed!
• Sound also does not pause/stutter while loading from SD, thanks to hooking into the halt SWI call branch, instead of vBlank/FIFO IRQs.
• Save redirection to SD returns to some SDK3 games! (e.g. New Super Mario Bros., Lunar Knights, Sonic Rush Adventure, etc.).
• DSi and 3DS versions have merged into one build!

Bug fixes

• You can now return to DSiMenu++ on both DSi and 3DS, by holding L+R+DOWN+B for 2 seconds.
• Sound should now work properly on all games on DSi/3DS running DSiWarehax.

Known bugs

• A few games may try to erase save data on the SD card, due to it thinking it's corrupt.
  Known game with this issue is Sonic Rush. Be sure to backup your .sav file, in case if it happens to your game as well.
• A few games (and some SDK5 games) that worked on the previous version, may not work on this version.

btw did you lower the audio volume too? Before this speed boost it was super loud, now it's normal.

 

[RocketRobz]

btw did you lower the audio volume too? Before this speed boost it was super loud, now it's normal.

Yeah, I'm thinking shortly after the release of v0.8.1, I fixed it.

 

[piratesephiroth]

Yeah, I'm thinking shortly after the release of v0.8.1, I fixed it.

That was kinda weird. I didn't know the 3DS was capable of being so loud, lol

 

[Damin72]

FINALLY! Resident Evil DS working on full speed! And Ace Attorney games with Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow.

 

[Pickle_Rick]

Wow, holy crap. This new update is amazing! Elite Beat Agents works perfectly now! I guess the only thing left to do is improve compatibility since speed isn't an issue anymore. You guys rock!

 

[Gamefreak_]

Touchscreen still isn't working for me . I have the latest nds-bootstrap and DSiMenu++ too.

 

[Purplstuph]

0.9.0 rc2 leaves me a white screen when booting sm64 ds.
0.8.1 booted it near instantly.

 

[Dmestral]

why i cant update the bootstrap? i just copy an paste on the nds folder..but on the screen dont show the right version.

 

[piratesephiroth]

Touchscreen still isn't working for me . I have the latest nds-bootstrap and DSiMenu++ too.

0.9.0 rc2 leaves me a white screen when booting sm64 ds.
0.8.1 booted it near instantly.

try this, it contains all the latest files (for the 3DS)

https://void.cat/4f08f344760916d08427f4476a387214086a9e0a

why i cant update the bootstrap? i just copy an paste on the nds folder..but on the screen dont show the right version.

It's because the version is read from a separate file, not from bootstrap.nds

 

[Dmestral]

so the version is already update? even if the version number dont show on the app?

 

[piratesephiroth]

so the version is already update? even if the version number dont show on the app?

Yes. The version in the app is only used by the online updater (when it's implemented)

 

[Gamefreak_]

Yes. The version in the app is only used by the online updater (when it's implemented)

It updated my DSiMenu from 4.2 to 4.3 but I still have the touch screen issue. I can't turn off quick start either or it boots me to the 3ds menu whenever I launch a game :/

 

[EPgrouch]

0.9.0 rc2 leaves me a white screen when booting sm64 ds.
0.8.1 booted it near instantly.

I have this problem as well

 

[nl255]

Where do you get the latest unofficial nds-bootstrap from?

 

[piratesephiroth]

Where do you get the latest unofficial nds-bootstrap from?

I build from the source code on github

 

[HikkiFan7]

Hello, when I select “Start DSiMenu ++” all it does is give me the “An error has occurred. Press and hold the POWER Button to turn the system off. Please refer to the Operations Manual for details.” screen.
Any help is appreciated. I’m using a 2DS.

 

[nl255]

I build from the source code on github

Thanks. Is there an unofficial sdk5 bootstrap yet or is it still the same as the released version?