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:

 

[RocketRobz]

Thanks. Another thing if you don't mind; I don't need to re-do the fowarder, right? Because I always update through the Universal-Updater.

Yes, no need to redo the forwarder.

 

[enpeaphor]

Is this or the twl_firm available as a .firm format, to use as a luma payload?

 

[RocketRobz]

Is this or the twl_firm available as a .firm format, to use as a luma payload?

Nope. Why do you ask?

 

[enpeaphor]

Nope. Why do you ask?

Out of curiosity more than anything - I've recently been using open_agb_firm and enjoy the pick up and play nature of it.
Is a twl_firm payload feasible?

 

[RocketRobz]

Out of curiosity more than anything - I've recently been using open_agb_firm and enjoy the pick up and play nature of it.
Is a twl_firm payload feasible?

Pretty sure it's possible, but might involve more work than with open_agb_firm.

 

[Rya687]

Is there even a point in making a firmware version of this? OPEN_AGB_FIRM is firmware out of necessity because it needs full hardware access in order to function. This software doesn't.

 

[AmandaRose]

@RocketRobz The English Patched version of Captain Tsubasa: New Kick Off crashes as the first football game kicks off. Apparently it's because of AP kicking in. Hopefully we can get a patch for this issue.

 

[RocketRobz]

v0.72.1
Included in TWiLight Menu++ v25.11.0 (GBATemp thread)

Bug fixes​

• The save soft-locking bug in Pokemon B&W 1&2 and some other games has been fixed once again.
• Fixed communication errors when booting Pictochat or DLP apps.
• My Healthy Cooking Coach has been blacklisted from using card read DMA, in order to boot.
• The patch offset cache should now be properly cleared, when found to be out of date.
  • This should fix some games not booting, of which have previously been booted by a prior nds-bootstrap version.
• After opening the in-game menu, and when closing the 3DS or 2DS console's lid, it'll no longer lock up on black screens.
• Attempted to add compatibility for SD cards of lesser-known brands, by disabling NDMA before the game boots.
  • NDMA is now always disabled for homebrew.

 

[Alicekchan]

This is my first time kinda diving into using the bootstrap loader so forgive my ignorance. On the latest version, I've been having issues with loading Dragon Quest V where it'll show the main titles and the go to a castle background and then cycle again. I don't know if this is a new issue that's happening again but I saw that this was a previous issue that should've been fixed in a previous version. I tried two different USA roms and an EU rom and both give the same issue with cycling before getting to the main menu.

 

[RocketRobz]

This is my first time kinda diving into using the bootstrap loader so forgive my ignorance. On the latest version, I've been having issues with loading Dragon Quest V where it'll show the main titles and the go to a castle background and then cycle again. I don't know if this is a new issue that's happening again but I saw that this was a previous issue that should've been fixed in a previous version. I tried two different USA roms and an EU rom and both give the same issue with cycling before getting to the main menu.

Try switching to TWL clock speed in the TWLMenu++ per-game settings (opened by pressing Y).

 

[Alicekchan]

Try switching to TWL clock speed in the TWLMenu++ per-game settings (opened by pressing Y).

Okay I tried switching the clock speed to TWL and no change. I also now tried a new JPN rom and tested that as well with both default and TWL speed with the same issue. If it helps at all or makes a difference, I'm using a 2DSXL on the latest CFW and the last release of TWL.

 

[RocketRobz]

Okay I tried switching the clock speed to TWL and no change. I also now tried a new JPN rom and tested that as well with both default and TWL speed with the same issue.

Then it sounds like an issue related to SD card speed.

 

[Alicekchan]

Then it sounds like an issue related to SD card speed.

Lovely. Is there anything you can think of that I can do to fix it on my end? I was using a SanDisk Ultra 128GB card formated to ExFAT before when I initially was having the problem. I also just used a different SanDisk 32GB card with a copy of the ROM on it and had the same issue.

 

[RocketRobz]

Lovely. Is there anything you can think of that I can do to fix it on my end? I was using a SanDisk Ultra 128GB card formated to ExFAT before when I initially was having the problem. I also just used a different SanDisk 32GB card with a copy of the ROM on it and had the same issue.

Try downgrading to this nds-bootstrap version: https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap/releases/tag/v0.71.2

Post automatically merged: Jun 28, 2023

Lovely. Is there anything you can think of that I can do to fix it on my end? I was using a SanDisk Ultra 128GB card formated to ExFAT before when I initially was having the problem.

Do you mean FAT32? Because none of the DS(i) homebrew support exFAT.

 

[Alicekchan]

Try downgrading to this nds-bootstrap version:

Do you mean FAT32? Because none of the DS(i) homebrew support exFAT.

Okay so sorry yeah I was mixed up, the card is on FAT32. That's my bad.

So I downgraded to 0.71.2 and that looks to have fixed the issue, it's booting up now normally to the main menu.

 

[Slinger]

Okay, I guess it's time again for another noob question from me. I'm still trying to run the Shantae dsiware title on DS (using a genuine R4+, r4ids.cn) and it works surprisingly well. I except I'm not getting any music. Same thing with the cartridge on my 2DS XL (but I do get music when running the game as installed dsiware on the console).

Originally I thought it was something wrong with my setup, but I deleted all old files (twilightmenu, nds-bootstrap, etc.) installed the latest and still not getting any music. The game itself doesn't seem to have any sound settings, and I've tried different donor roms. I'm not using the Autoboot/kernel feature. Have I overlooked something? Does anyone else recognize this issue?

Anyway, keep up the amazing work!

 

[RocketRobz]

Okay, I guess it's time again for another noob question from me. I'm still trying to run the Shantae dsiware title on DS (using a genuine R4+, r4ids.cn) and it works surprisingly well. I except I'm not getting any music. Same thing with the cartridge on my 2DS XL (but I do get music when running the game as installed dsiware on the console).

Originally I thought it was something wrong with my setup, but I deleted all old files (twilightmenu, nds-bootstrap, etc.) installed the latest and still not getting any music. The game itself doesn't seem to have any sound settings, and I've tried different donor roms. I'm not using the Autoboot/kernel feature. Have I overlooked something? Does anyone else recognize this issue?

Anyway, keep up the amazing work!

Due to memory limitations, it is normal for the music to not play.

 

[Slinger]

Ah, perfect! I'm actually relieved to hear it's wasn't specifically on my end.

I have tried playing that game on the 2DS XL, but honestly the washed out colors (even with 1:1 scaling) are too annoying. Will have to see if I try to find a memory expansion module, a DSi, or just play the remake.

 

[RocketRobz]

Ah, perfect! I'm actually relieved to hear it's wasn't specifically on my end.

I have tried playing that game on the 2DS XL, but honestly the washed out colors (even with 1:1 scaling) are too annoying. Will have to see if I try to find a memory expansion module, a DSi, or just play the remake.

Shantae will not use the Expansion Pak in any way, so a DSi or the remake are your only options.

 

[Slinger]

Good to know. Thanks!