Homebrew VNDS freezes with TwilightMenu++ on DSi (sd slot)

[Nikokaro]

Perhaps recently this problem has already been addressed but I couldn't find the corresponding thread.
Has anyone managed to get VNDS working on DSi, from SD slot? As far as I am concerned, I only get two white screens.

1) If I run it from the VNDS folder, it gives me a message on a blue background, informing me that it has to be patched or run from SD root.

2) If I start it from SD root (outside the VNDS folder), both in DS or DSi mode, it freezes on two white screens with no error message.

3) If I launch it with alternative software (HBmenu, DSOrganize) it always freezes on two white screens.

Yet it seems to me that in the past I had managed to start it from SD slot..
I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. Have any of you managed to get it working using TwilightMenu++ (from SD slot)?
My true goal is to run it in DSi mode, so that it takes advantage of the most RAM available and fastest processor, because I have no problem running it on flashcart, but here it often crashes or loads VN files very slowly (e.g. Kagetsu Tohya).
Thanks

 

[ClipperDefiance]

I don't remember how I figured this out, but I had to put the .nds in both the VNDS folder and root to get it working.

 

[Nikokaro]

I don't remember how I figured this out, but I had to put the .nds in both the VNDS folder and root to get it working.

Hmm... I will try, but I highly doubt it will work. Still, it can't hurt to try.

Post automatically merged: Apr 6, 2024

I don't remember how I figured this out, but I had to put the .nds in both the VNDS folder and root to get it working.

Nah...it still doesn't work, whether set in DS mode or DSi mode. Tell the truth: you made it up on the spot.

 

[ClipperDefiance]

Then, I don't know what's wrong. It's what worked for me

 

[Nikokaro]

Then, I don't know what's wrong. It's what worked for me

Hey pal, to access TwilightMenu on SD card do you use Unlaunch or an exploit (Memory Pit, FlipNote Lenny)? If you use the former, perhaps that would explain why it doesn't work for me (I use the exploits mentioned).
I don't know what else to think...

Edit: What version of TWL++ do you use? I use one from 2022. Maybe it works from a certain version onwards? Could this be the source of the problem? @RocketRobz , could you help me chief, if it's not too much trouble?

 

[ClipperDefiance]

I have Unlaunch and Hiya CFW. As for TwilightMenu, I've used it on several versions over a few years, but I currently have 26.8.0.

 

[RocketRobz]

Hey pal, to access TwilightMenu on SD card do you use Unlaunch or an exploit (Memory Pit, FlipNote Lenny)? If you use the former, perhaps that would explain why it doesn't work for me (I use the exploits mentioned).
I don't know what else to think...

Edit: What version of TWL++ do you use? I use one from 2022. Maybe it works from a certain version onwards? Could this be the source of the problem? @RocketRobz , could you help me chief, if it's not too much trouble?

You'll need to update TWLMenu++, as later versions include a newer nds-bootstrap version with improved homebrew compatibility. (I'm curious as to why you stayed on an older version?)
If it still doesn't work, you'll need to install Unlaunch and have it autoboot TWLMenu++ with no buttons held.

 

[Nikokaro]

I'm curious as to why you stayed on an older version?

Thank you for the prompt reply. I have not updated it out of laziness, fear of messing things up, and ultimately because, until now, I had no need to do so. First of all, I will try only with the newer nds-bootstrap, and see if everything will work out. If not sufficient, I will completely reinstall the whole newer TWL. Thanks again and sorry for the trouble.

Post automatically merged: Apr 7, 2024

Hmm... unfortunately, even with the latest version of nds-bootstrap, in both DS and DSi mode, it does not work.
The only difference is that it always gives me the warning message on a blue background, with a white screen underneath.
So could it be that the problem is due to using the exploits, without Unlaunch? I honestly don't understand, technically speaking, what difference using the two methods makes in this regard. I will have to resign myself to playing it from flashcart, since I don't want to modify permanently the original console software.

 

[Miloemulator]

Select RAM disk 0, works for some reason lol, also ds mode

Post automatically merged: Jul 30, 2024

Select RAM disk 0, works for some reason lol, also ds mode

Worked?

 

[Nikokaro]

Select RAM disk 0, works for some reason lol, also ds mode

Thanks, but in the meantime I found this: https://github.com/asiekierka/vnds that is, a newer version, optimized to take advantage of the capabilities of the DSi. Honestly, I haven't tried it yet, but I take it for granted that it works great....
.....or at least I hope so.

 

[Miloemulator]

Thanks, but in the meantime I found this: https://github.com/asiekierka/vnds that is, a newer version, optimized to take advantage of the capabilities of the DSi. Honestly, I haven't tried it yet, but I take it for granted that it works great....
.....or at least I hope so.

Your welcome

 

[4d1xlaan]

for what it's worth, running twilightmenu through exploits like these is a lot more limited than running using unlaunch, because the exploits dont properly give full access to the hardware

 

[Lazy_Discount_9361]

I hope this reaches you well.

I'm not sure if you fixed the issue, or how you were trying to run it to begin with.

I'm running it myself on a DSi and I could not make TwilightMenu++ to work (actually, TwilightMenu++ only gives me problems).

To start VNDS I use the Flipnote exploit detailed here (dsi dot cfw dot guide slash launching-the-flipnote-exploit dot html) but I do not boot to TwilightMenu++, I use hbmenu, which is already in the FlipNote-Lenny.zip file the site will prompt you to download.

Then I don't use the regular VNDS 1.4.9 (it does not work, it will give this exact libfat error). I use this fork (github dot com slash asiekierka slash vnds), which works flawlessly from the sdcard.

So, the structure of my sdcard and files is:

boot.nds (hbmenu), vnds.nds (forked VNDS), both on root folder. The Flipnote exploit folders and files (everything inside the private folder on root), and a vnds folder on root, which contains all files, and inside it a novels folder.

Simply run the exploit, boot to hbmenu, select the vnds.nds, and everything will start flawlessly.

The only thing is that the sound won't work by default, you need to convert sound files to wavpack format (only the sound files, do not change the scripts nor anything else). The Github repository has a script for you to run if using Linux. If using Windows, you can try running the commands on WSL or something.


UPDATE: After setting up the audio files, I notice they when they play on my DSi they are so cluttered I can't even identify what's happening. It seems like a software or hardware issue, the audio files are fine if I listen to them on my computer.

Post automatically merged: Apr 21, 2025

Thanks, but in the meantime I found this: ... that is, a newer version, optimized to take advantage of the capabilities of the DSi. Honestly, I haven't tried it yet, but I take it for granted that it works great....
.....or at least I hope so.

Just asking, if you fixed your issues (because I saw some other threads here where you talk about vnds), is your audio fine? If you fixed it, what did you do?

 

[Nikokaro]

I hope this reaches you well.

I'm not sure if you fixed the issue, or how you were trying to run it to begin with.

I'm running it myself on a DSi and I could not make TwilightMenu++ to work (actually, TwilightMenu++ only gives me problems).

To start VNDS I use the Flipnote exploit detailed here (dsi dot cfw dot guide slash launching-the-flipnote-exploit dot html) but I do not boot to TwilightMenu++, I use hbmenu, which is already in the FlipNote-Lenny.zip file the site will prompt you to download.

Then I don't use the regular VNDS 1.4.9 (it does not work, it will give this exact libfat error). I use this fork (github dot com slash asiekierka slash vnds), which works flawlessly from the sdcard.

So, the structure of my sdcard and files is:

boot.nds (hbmenu), vnds.nds (forked VNDS), both on root folder. The Flipnote exploit folders and files (everything inside the private folder on root), and a vnds folder on root, which contains all files, and inside it a novels folder.

Simply run the exploit, boot to hbmenu, select the vnds.nds, and everything will start flawlessly.

The only thing is that the sound won't work by default, you need to convert sound files to wavpack format (only the sound files, do not change the scripts nor anything else). The Github repository has a script for you to run if using Linux. If using Windows, you can try running the commands on WSL or something.


UPDATE: After setting up the audio files, I notice they when they play on my DSi they are so cluttered I can't even identify what's happening. It seems like a software or hardware issue, the audio files are fine if I listen to them on my computer.

Post automatically merged: Apr 21, 2025

Just asking, if you fixed your issues (because I saw some other threads here where you talk about vnds), is your audio fine? If you fixed it, what did you do?

Thanks for the clear explanation, but I gave up playing it from SD card on DSi: I only play from a flashcart (on DS Lite or DSi), where it works fine (except for occasional freezing during saving).

That version you mentioned has the defect that you have to convert all the audio files, and I usually use the pre-converted VNs available online, which work great (the only exceptions are some titles of the Hanabira series that crash during audio playback).
In any case, that recent version for DSi should be tested more thoroughly, and the compatibility of the old audio format should be reintroduced.

 

[Lazy_Discount_9361]

Thanks for the clear explanation, but I gave up playing it from SD card on DSi: I only play from a flashcart (on DS Lite or DSi), where it works fine (except for occasional freezing during saving).

That version you mentioned has the defect that you have to convert all the audio files, and I usually use the pre-converted VNs available online, which work great (the only exceptions are some titles of the Hanabira series that crash during audio playback).
In any case, that recent version for DSi should be tested more thoroughly, and the compatibility of the old audio format should be reintroduced.

I also have a flashcart, and I would be using it to play, the reason why I'm using the exploit now is that I lack the microsd adapter to put it in my computer, so I could save the files there. Because of this, I now have to use the exploit because it only needs a regular sdcard (not microsd).

I can understand why the guy removed compatibility to aac and mp3 (licensing issues, he wanting it to be free software and complaining to the GPL etc.), but I also understand your point on wanting it back. I don't really care about converting, it just takes time, but it's easy to do, you just paste some lines in your terminal and you are good.

I might try this version on melonDS to see if the audio is also cluttering (revealing it to be a software issue) or if it does not clutter (revealing it to be a hardware issue). What I feel is that my DSi is lacking RAM to process the audio. I have a strong feeling that it's because I'm running vnds in the exploit and not flashcart or custom firmware.

Do you (or anyone in this forum) have performance issues when running things from the exploit? If I install unlaunch and hiyacfw will it run flawlessly? I don't want to do that because I want to keep my DSi original.

I have a japanese DSi, by the way, I don't know if the software or hardware changes much, but it's worth noting.

 

[Nikokaro]

Do you (or anyone in this forum) have performance issues when running things from the exploit?

I also use Flipnote Lenny as an exploit, and all the ports I've tried, pretty much all the fps games available (Doom, Duke3d, Hexen, Heretic, Quake) and their expansions (megawads, addons etc) work great, and actually DSi uses the entire available ram (otherwise they wouldn't work). Flipnote is the best exploit, if you don't want to permanently modify the DSi's internal software.
The camera exploit (Memory Pit) however, is not as effective (for example it gives audio problems with Gbarunner2 and the FPSs mentioned), so I changed it with Flipnote Lenny.
Personal opinions from subjective experiences.

 

[Lazy_Discount_9361]

@Nikokaro I think my github account is flagged so if you could please post the following text (as a new issue) on "issues" of asiekierka slash vnds:


Title: Audio plays defectively / cluttering / static noise

How I'm running the software: sdcard on my DSi, I start VNDS through hbmenu running from the Flipnote Lenny exploit. Everything works flawlessly, images, text, but audio is playing in a distorted way and cutting, like for example when you are voice chatting in the internet and you connection is poor.
The audio is already converted to wavpack and the files play flawlessly on my computer, without distortion at all. It is only distorted when I'm playing in the DSi. NOTICE: (unrelated to my issue anyway, but you are going to benefit) your conversion script has a "begin" word in it that does nothing in shell. Does not give problems but the shell will keep saying "begin: command not found", so, just warning you.

I don't really know what the issue could be and I'm willing to help you testing etc., just to help other people who might benefit.

 

[k66]

I tried VNDS1.4.2&1.4.9, both can work on TwilightMenu++ DSi (SD slot), sound and pictures are good.
Put novels & skins folder, vnds.nds, config.ini, _default.ttf to the SD root.
But there are random(maybe turn page too fast?) black screen "guru meditation error"(maybe at first, maybe after a long time).

 

[Nikokaro]

@Nikokaro I think my github account is flagged so if you could please post the following text (as a new issue) on "issues" of asiekierka slash vnds

Sure. I'll do it as soon as I can.

 

[Lazy_Discount_9361]

I tried VNDS1.4.2&1.4.9, both can work on TwilightMenu++ DSi (SD slot), sound and pictures are good.
Put novels & skins folder, vnds.nds, config.ini, _default.ttf to the SD root.
But there are random(maybe turn page too fast?) black screen "guru meditation error"(maybe at first, maybe after a long time).

Could you please (for replicability purposes) share your sdcard root contents in a zip (or any archive format of your preference) file?

Omit everything that is personal or private matter, but share the full sdcard root as it is (please confirm that the version you are sharing works, though). Don't include the visual novels in the file, though, because it would occupy so many space.

How are you accessing vnds? Through the Flipnote exploit as well?

Sure. I'll do it as soon as I can.

Thank you. Let's see how it goes.