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:

 

[ahezard]

BTW you need to have your SD Card formatted to FAT32 to make things like NeoDS and GBARunner2 to work?
I think the reason both of those don't work (And I tested both in a flashcard, works perfectly) is because seemingly my SD card is formatted to FAT. I could reformat it to FAT32, but IDK if there is a hidden partition in the SD Card or I need to do backup or something because I got games and stuff installed in it, and I have no idea if I have to back the files normally, back some more data by specific methods, or backing up the NAND along with the former stuff.

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

It's also kinda odd. I tested the SAV_PATH to point it to the root of the SD Card for a "TetrisDS.sav", and a save file from TDS using TWLSaveTool accordingly (From SPP cartridge with TDS save). It still gives the "Unable to read the data." error, though I don't know if "Reading" the save file doesn't fix THESE issues, but the bootstrap indeed loads the save file (I will test Megaman ZX). EDIT: .-. I tried with Megaman ZX, aaaaaaand it doesn't read the save either (I'm sure I used the correct save)

A save file dumped with twlsavetool should indeed works but the compatibilty of the save redirection is limited to early ds games. It is based on the reverse engineering of the MaxOverload patcher 1.2. Only the "v1" method have been implemented so you can check if a rom is compatible by using the maxoverload patcher on it. If it says : arm7 successfully patched, v1.0, it will works. But do not worry, the compatibility will improve and save writing will work soon.

 

[TinchoX]

Yes. It only reads saves for now. It doesn't write to them yet.

Ohh it's getting there!!

 

[Stack3r]

Have there been any games that work better now that we can import saves or do we still need writing

 

[Svaethier]

Have there been any games that work better now that we can import saves or do we still need writing

I think we still need to write to get better game improvement

 

[dubbz82]

I'd GUESS that there's probably at least a few that naiively look for somewhere to read in data from at boot...those might no longer crash.

 

[Naked_Snake]

Has anyone got a QR code to the latest CIA build or do we just update the bootstrap nds file?

 

[RocketRobz]

Has anyone got a QR code to the latest CIA build or do we just update the bootstrap nds file?

We just update the bootstrap nds file.

 

[Naked_Snake]

We just update the bootstrap nds file.

Cheers I'm using TWLoader 2.3.1

 

[Disharmony16]

We just update the bootstrap nds file.

Are your files in TWLoader thread and Forwarder Cias updated with this last build? (Save_Path)

 

[Naked_Snake]

Are your files in TWLoader thread and Forwarder Cias updated with this last build? (Save_Path)

Yes but I don't have any forwarders yet
Tested out MARIO DS, it seemed to boot but Hotel dusk and GTA Chinatown wars didn't lol

 

[Disharmony16]

Yes but I don't have any forwarders yet
Tested out MARIO DS, it seemed to boot but Hotel dusk and GTA Chinatown wars didn't lol

The files aren't update since 3 days, so how you update they? using twloader? official or unofficial?
Sorry for asking much, i still don't get how to update the files.

 

[adrifcastr]

with the latest unofficial I am actually able to play the first level in sm 64

 

[Apache Thunder]

Mario 64 fully playable (though slow to load new levels, but gameplay is lag free for the most part)

 

[Fatalanus]

It's happening!! Dev, do you think that more progresses can be made to enhance the software - compatibility? Reducing loading time and stuff?

 

[adrifcastr]

It's happening!! Dev, do you think that more progresses can be made to enhance the software - compatibility? Reducing loading time and stuff?

"Dev" actually got a name, @ahezard

 

[metroid maniac]

It's happening!! Dev, do you think that more progresses can be made to enhance the software - compatibility? Reducing loading time and stuff?

tbh adding save support alone should get a lot of games working. It's not unexpected that games would hang if they can't access save data.

 

[Fatalanus]

Well I guess that he is not the only one, so it's more Devs than Dev.

 

[Stack3r]

Mario 64 fully playable (though slow to load new levels, but gameplay is lag free for the most part)

Official build or?

 

[Apache Thunder]

It's in the official release on github I believe.

 

[adrifcastr]

ahezard pulled a lot save file stuff to twloader