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:

 

[AntnioMoura]

Nice job guys!
I am trying some games that i have in my SD and it's going really good( like Mario Kart took me like 5 minutes to start playing a race from booting to race! it's really nice!)

 

[Stack3r]

Are you using the unofficial or official bootstrap?
Because it won't load for me with unofficial bootstrap.

Unofficial

 

[AntnioMoura]

Question: How do i set MK DS as donor?
Because i click on select and select the option and he does nothing.

 

[RocketRobz]

Question: How do i set MK DS as donor?
Because i click on select and select the option and he does nothing.

What's in "nds-bootstrap.ini"?

 

[AntnioMoura]

What's in "nds-bootstrap.ini"?

Spoiler

[NDS-BOOTSTRAP]
NDS_PATH = fat:/roms/nds/0003 - Yoshi Touch & Go (U)(Trashman).nds
BOOTSTRAP_PATH = fat:/_nds/bootstrap.nds
BOOST_CPU = 1
NTR_MODE_SWITCH = 0
DEBUG = -1
LOCK_ARM9_SCFG_EXT = 0
ARM7_DONOR_PATH = fat:/roms/nds/MKDS.sav
PATCH_MPU_REGION = 0
PATCH_MPU_SIZE = 0
SAV_PATH = fat:/roms/nds/0003 - Yoshi Touch & Go (U)(Trashman).sav

 

[RocketRobz]

Spoiler

[NDS-BOOTSTRAP]
NDS_PATH = fat:/roms/nds/0003 - Yoshi Touch & Go (U)(Trashman).nds
BOOTSTRAP_PATH = fat:/_nds/bootstrap.nds
BOOST_CPU = 1
NTR_MODE_SWITCH = 0
DEBUG = -1
LOCK_ARM9_SCFG_EXT = 0
ARM7_DONOR_PATH = fat:/roms/nds/MKDS.sav
PATCH_MPU_REGION = 0
PATCH_MPU_SIZE = 0
SAV_PATH = fat:/roms/nds/0003 - Yoshi Touch & Go (U)(Trashman).sav

The ARM7_DONOR_PATH should be a .nds file, not a .sav file.

 

[AntnioMoura]

The ARM7_DONOR_PATH should be a .nds file, not a .sav file.

It's just that?

 

[RocketRobz]

It's just that?

Yes.

 

[AntnioMoura]

Yes.

Ok. Thanks man!

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Nice job guys!
I am trying some games that i have in my SD and it's going really good( like Mario Kart took me like 5 minutes to start playing a race from booting to race! it's really nice!)

Try formatting the SD Card with 32kb cluster size. That shoud improve GREATLY the loading times (only 10-20 seconds)

 

[TinchoX]

No luck huh

Yeah... well it's getting there. Too bad PMD EoS Jukebox is broken ATM. (because, you know, if you can't play it properly at least you could try listening to some of it's music, but not even that yet q.q)

On a side note: The compatibility sheet is messed up! :<

 

[SlimPortable]

Just tested a few more games and:

1. Wow! Meteos runs almost perfectly! Boots to main menu in a few seconds. From there the menus stutter HORRIBLY but you can get to a game pretty quickly still. The actual gameplay is perfect. From what I tried no stuttering and it all runs smooth. Would there be a way to use the save data from my cartridge copy of the game with this version?

2. Code Lyoko DS doesn't boot. It goes to a black screen and I let it sit for around 7-10 minutes and it never boots.

3. Puchi Puchi Virus says save data reading error. It should work with the Mario Kart DS donor thing but I don't have that set up right now so I can't test how the game runs once you're in gameplay.

I saw that I got access to the compatibility list last night so I'll add these changes there in a few after eating!

 

[WarioTails358]

Yes.

I tried requesting access to edit the compatibility sheet but I didn't get a notice saying I did, should I just click on request access again?

 

[RocketRobz]

I tried requesting access to edit the compatibility sheet but I didn't get a notice saying I did, should I just click on request access again?

I think I gave you access just now.

 

[TinchoX]

I think I gave you access just now.

Should I deleted entries I edited the other day? Because there's duplicates. (I updated a few entries in that new sheet you had just a few hours ago)

 

[RocketRobz]

Should I deleted entries I edited the other day? Because there's duplicates. (I updated a few entries in that new sheet you had just a few hours ago)

Yes.

 

[TinchoX]

Yes.

On it!

 

[TheArcadeStriker]

Just tested a few more games and:

1. Wow! Meteos runs almost perfectly! Boots to main menu in a few seconds. From there the menus stutter HORRIBLY but you can get to a game pretty quickly still. The actual gameplay is perfect. From what I tried no stuttering and it all runs smooth. Would there be a way to use the save data from my cartridge copy of the game with this version?

2. Code Lyoko DS doesn't boot. It goes to a black screen and I let it sit for around 7-10 minutes and it never boots.

3. Puchi Puchi Virus says save data reading error. It should work with the Mario Kart DS donor thing but I don't have that set up right now so I can't test how the game runs once you're in gameplay.

I saw that I got access to the compatibility list last night so I'll add these changes there in a few after eating!

Use TWLSaveTool to back up your Meteos save, then rename the .sav file dumped to the rom name and put it in your roms folder. That should make it load your save.

 

[TimX24968B]

Just tested a few more games and:

1. Wow! Meteos runs almost perfectly! Boots to main menu in a few seconds. From there the menus stutter HORRIBLY but you can get to a game pretty quickly still. The actual gameplay is perfect. From what I tried no stuttering and it all runs smooth. Would there be a way to use the save data from my cartridge copy of the game with this version?

2. Code Lyoko DS doesn't boot. It goes to a black screen and I let it sit for around 7-10 minutes and it never boots.

3. Puchi Puchi Virus says save data reading error. It should work with the Mario Kart DS donor thing but I don't have that set up right now so I can't test how the game runs once you're in gameplay.

I saw that I got access to the compatibility list last night so I'll add these changes there in a few after eating!

For 2, try letting it sit a few hours. One of my games, lego star wars: the complete saga to be specific, requires 10 min just to load the intro, then another 7 hours to play the intro, and another 30 minutes of holding A down on the main menu for a new game. (But sadly, it thinks the ds cart was removed at that point)

 

[TinchoX]

For 2, try letting it sit a few hours. One of my games, lego star wars: the complete saga to be specific, requires 10 min just to load the intro, then another 7 hours to play the intro, and another 30 minutes of holding A down on the main menu for a new game. (But sadly, it thinks the ds cart was removed at that point)

Uhh... did you actually try that lego game again using a newer version than the one you tested it with? Load times are much much shorter than back then...