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:

 

[ThoD]

i mean, whats the point of a 100% completed game on the 3ds?
why not just play it again without having to aim for 100% this time?

For the simple reason that 100% completed means I have all the panel items to make builds for each character, so I can import the save and be able to play multiplayer using endgame characters and going on endgame missions straight away (reason I want it since I already have cartridge), plus in 358/2 Days you can replay almost the entire game again simply through missions, so beaten or not doesn't matter, plus it has the best final fights out of the entire series, another reason to want a save at those without the grinding (playing on hard and would take a while to get to same level and everything from scratch, time I don't have).

About the AP patch, it would seem the one posted here doesn't work when it comes to fixing the black screen, even on US version, so anyone can give me a working patch or something to make the game playable?

Also, tested Pokemon Black on 0.10 version using forwarders from SD card and works perfectly fine except for three things:
- When changing overworld areas most of the time there will be a slowdown (to about 1/3rd of the framerate) for just half to one second
- When loading up, the top and bottom screen will have the bottom pixels distorted and showing the same thing the ones above do, same as it was for me when testing Legacy of Ys, but now putting it to sleep mode and then resuming fixes it for good until you restart the games
- Soft-reseting (L+R+Start+Select) causes an Arm9 exception (prefetch abort, svcbreak) and forced shut-down

 

[Pickle_Rick]

Just going to post some game compatibility findings that aren't in the google doc or don't line up with what's in there.

Or just add them to/update them in the compatibility list.

 

[RocketRobz]

- When loading up, the top and bottom screen will have the bottom pixels distorted and showing the same thing the ones above do, same as it was for me when testing Legacy of Ys, but now putting it to sleep mode and then resuming fixes it for good until you restart the games

That's happens on occasion, due to a bug in TWL_FIRM.

- Soft-reseting (L+R+Start+Select) causes an Arm9 exception (prefetch abort, svcbreak) and forced shut-down

How Luma handles NTR/TWL mode is kinda broken, currently.
Use Rei-Six to fix the issue.

 

[SG854]

That's happens on occasion, due to a bug in TWL_FIRM.

How Luma handles NTR/TWL mode is kinda broken, currently.
Use Rei-Six to fix the issue.

I'm using Rei-Six and L+R+DOWN+B doesn't work for me.

 

[RocketRobz]

nds-bootstrap v0.10.1

What's new?

• Two features that got removed since the cart speed implementation, are returning:
  • ROM loading into RAM: Brings slightly faster than cart speeds. ROMs with the size of 24MB (8MB for DSi) or lower, will be loaded into RAM.
    ROMs loaded into RAM will also have no sound issues (crackles and/or double sound).
  • Async prefetching: Helps streamed video/audio play without issues.
• More thumb games are now working, such as Dragon Quest V!
• Earlier SDK5/TWLSDK games (when SDK4 was still used for NTR mode games) now work, such as Classic Word Games, My Healthy Cooking Coach, and Assassin's Creed II: Discovery (that also using thumb)!

 

[The Catboy]

So I noticed that you added back copying games to RAM, but I noticed with this release Animal Crossing (US version tested) is both slow and the sound still crackles. It should be small enough to copy to RAM.

 

[RocketRobz]

So I noticed that you added back copying games to RAM, but I noticed with this release Animal Crossing (US version tested) is both slow and the sound still crackles. It should be small enough to copy to RAM.

It's not. It's above 24MB.

 

[The Catboy]

It's not. It's above 24MB.

That makes sense, I just noticed that now. I honestly thought the game was a lot smaller.

 

[bobrocks95]

Or just add them to/update them in the compatibility list.

Don't have editing privileges on the Google Doc.

 

[Pickle_Rick]

Don't have editing privileges on the Google Doc.

Just request them on the document and you'll get it.

 

[RocketRobz]

Omg I think (at least the latest version) actually FIXES a bug in Mario Kart DS that exist both with the original cart and using a flashcard. When going to the stairs into Luigi's Mansion if you hold A and B and turn it usually crashes the game, including for anyone you are playing with on either local or wireless multiplayer. However when I used nds-bootstrap on two different systems it did not crash at all. Maybe the crash has something to do with data being read and a hack in nds-bootstrap in it's card reading emulation is causing it not to crash?
This is the glitch that causes the crash:

Yep! Can confirm the glitch isn't there.
My guess is that there's a bug in the original card read code.

 

[AlexTCGPro]

Just to check, games ran with NDS-boostrap load in og ds mode even with unlocked cpu, correct? No DSi emulation yet?

 

[RocketRobz]

Just to check, games ran with NDS-boostrap load in og ds mode even with unlocked cpu, correct? No DSi emulation yet?

Yes, they're in OG DS mode.

 

[ThoD]

Well, so I decided to edit the Pokemon Black ROM I'm using like I did for Platinum to make it so all Pokemon are obtainable in the game, plus making an endgame area full of level 100 Blisseys/Audinos to make endgame grinding a lot easier (replaced all dark grass encounters in Giant Chasm with them), but the program I'm using trims the ROM automatically. Platinum had gone from 128MBs to 101MBs, so I expected somewhere around the same trim, but Black goes from 256MBs all the way down to 191MBs, why is there SO much padding in it? That's basically 65MBs difference, too much for an NDS ROM compared to other trims that only are about 20-30MBs tops...

Also, do trimmed ROMs run any better? It seems to have very slightly load times and doesn't slow down as often when changing areas (then again, I'm in Nimbassa at this moment and that place is always slow AF even on real cartridges).

 

[darklordrs]

Any chance of Drayano romhacks ever being able run?

 

[Purplstuph]

Modern Warfare 3: Defiance boots to the menu.
When going in-game, it stops during transition. it's frozen.

As for Modern Warfare: Mobilized, slight sound crackling but everything runs fine

 

[Deleted member 282441]

I tried the latest version with Dragon Quest IX and it's listed as compatible, but I just get a white screen. I tried an AP patched ROM and the one with a cracktro. Has anyone gotten it working?

 

[RocketRobz]

I tried the latest version with Dragon Quest IX and it's listed as compatible, but I just get a white screen. I tried an AP patched ROM and the one with a cracktro. Has anyone gotten it working?

Try a ROM that is not patched in any way?

 

[Deleted member 282441]

Try a ROM that is not patched in any way?

Tried with a clean ROM (md5 ce8a56bc94f53d7841475edc308b0421) but it still hangs at a white screen.

 

[RocketRobz]

Tried with a clean ROM (md5 ce8a56bc94f53d7841475edc308b0421) but it still hangs at a white screen.

Can you try nds-bootstrap v0.10.0, and see if the issue is still there?