Nds-bootstrap

nds-bootstrap
General
Author	DS-Homebrew
Type	Title Launchers
Version	0.53.0
License	GPL-3.0
Last Updated	2021/12/26
Links
Download
Website
Source

nds-bootstrap is an open-source application that allows Nintendo DS/DSi ROMs and homebrew to be natively utilised rather than using an emulator. nds-bootstrap works on Nintendo DSi/3DS SD cards through CFW and on Nintendo DS through flashcarts.

Note from developers:

A frontend isn't required to be used as nds-bootstrap uses an ini file to load its parameters. However, it is very much recommended. TWiLight Menu++ is a frontend for nds-bootstrap, developed by RocketRobz & co. It has 7 customizable launchers to choose from with the ability to launch emulators and other homebrew. It also includes a number of Anti-Piracy patches for the games and will automatically configure nds-bootstrap for you, with customizable per game settings.

Installation

To install nds-bootstrap, download the .7z file.

Extract the nds-bootstrap .nds files, to root:/_nds/.

For TWLMenu++ users, extract the .ver file to root:/_nds/TWiLightMenu/ (only when you are updating nds-bootstrap, as it comes bundled in TWiLight Menu++).

User guide

ROM Compatibility

nds-bootstrap supports most DS ROMs, with a few exceptions (see compatibility list).

• You can enhance your gaming experience with cheats and faster load times than general cartridges (for games that support those features).
• Game saving is supported too and will be saved in the .sav extention, and .pub or .prv for DSiWare.
• Anti-Piracy patches can be loaded via IPS files, but they are not included inside the software itself.
• nds-bootstrap also supports many homebrew applications, including games like DSCraft (please check the compatibility list above).

B4DS mode (a result of running nds-bootstrap on DS-mode flashcards with locked SCFG or DS Phat/lite):

• Supports some DS ROMs, you can increase compatibility by inserting a DS Memory Expansion Pak.
• Since v0.50.2 it is also possible to boot Nintendo DSi+Internet, see list of supported DSiWare titles.
• Note: Dumping RAM and taking screenshots are currently not possible in B4DS mode.

Screenshots

To take screenshots directly from the hardware:

• Open the in-game menu, select Screenshots...
• Select the VRAM bank, in case if the screenshot looks incorrect (this feature cannot be used in B4DS mode).
• You can now step 1 frame, while in the in-game menu (by pressing R).
• Screenshots will be saved to screenshots.tar in sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/.
  • Due to hardware limitations, only screenshots of the main-set screen will be taken.
  • Limit is 50 screenshots. After reaching the limit, you cannot take any more, until you delete screenshots.tar in sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/, where it'll be re-created on next boot.

FAQ

Please see the FAQ & Troubleshooting page.

Controls

These do not apply to DSiWare.

L+R+Up+X (for 1 second) - Swap the screens

L+R+Down+A (for 2 seconds) - Dump RAM to sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap, as ramDump.bin

L+R+Down+B (for 2 seconds) - Return to loader (may not work on some O3DS models, and does not work in B4DS mode)

L+Down+Select - Open the in-game menu (can be changed in the TWiLight Menu++ settings)

Screenshot (in-game menu):

R - Advance by one frame

Up/Down/Left/Right - Change VRAM bank

A - Save screenshot

B - Return to in-game menu

RAM Viewer (in-game menu):

Up/Down - Scroll

Left/Right - Fast scroll

R+Down/Up - Faster scroll

R+Left/Right - Fastest scroll

A - Enter RAM Editor

B - Return to in-game menu

Y - Specify an address to jump to

Up/Down - Increase/Decrease selected value

Left/Right - Select a value

A/B - Return to RAM Viewer/Editor at specified address

RAM Editor (in-game menu):

Up/Down/Left/Right - Select a value

A - Modify selected value

Up/Down - Increase/Decrease value by 1h

Left/Right - Increase/Decrease value by 10h

A/B - Finish modifying value

B - Return to RAM Viewer

Y - Specify an address to jump to

Up/Down - Increase/Decrease selected value

Left/Right - Select a value

A/B - Return to RAM Viewer/Editor at specified address

Media

3DS Play NDS ROM's Off Your SD Card! (TWiLightMenu) (Tech James)

Known issues

Please refer to https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap/issues.

Changelog

v0.53.0 2021/12/26

What's new?

• B4DS mode: Support for more titles have been added, making them playable on DS/DS lite consoles (For a complete list of supported titles, see this list here).
  • Flipper (music disabled).
  • Art Style: PiCTOBiTS.
  • (For Debug DS consoles:)
    • Cake Ninja.
    • Flipper 2: Flush the Goldfish.
    • Shantae: Risky's Revenge (music disabled)
• In-game menu: The Reset Game option no longer reboots the console.
• An ESRB rating screen will now be shown, if esrb.bin is found in sd:/_nds/nds-bootstrap/.
• B4DS mode can now be enabled on flashcards with unlocked SCFG! Only use this for testing purposes (.ini setting: B4DS_MODE).
  • Setting to 1 will set the RAM to 4MB.
  • Setting to 2 will set the RAM to the console's maximum amount. Some game will not work with this setting.

v0.52.0 (hotfix) 2021/12/10

What's new?

• B4DS mode: Support for more titles have been added, making them playable on DS/DS lite consoles.
• (For a complete list of supported titles, see this list here.)
  • 99Bullets.
  • 99Moves.
  • ARC Style: Soccer (Korea).
  • Kung Fu Dragon.
  • Mr. Brain (Japan).
  • Rabi Laby.
  • Rabi Laby 2.
  • (For Debug DS consoles:)
    • 99Seconds.
    • Mixed Messages.
    • Phantasy Star 0 Mini.
    • Space Invaders Extreme Z.

Bug fixes:

• The applied AP-fix will now persist when soft-resetting.
  • Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver Versions will now use the fast soft-reset method again.
• Fixed sound in Rainbow Islands Revolution when using DSiWarehax or DSi mode.
• B4DS mode: Cloneboot now works in Art Style: BASE 10.

Known bug:

• Sleep mode will not work in the 99Trilogy, due to their code (possibly) taking place in the overlays.

v0.51.1 (hotfix) 2021/11/27

Bug fixes:

• Fixed SDK2.0 games (such as Super Mario 64 DS) not booting.
• Fixed soft-reset not working in certain areas of some games.
• Reverted to slow soft-reset method for Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver Versions to work around the black screen crash.
• Fixed a regression where the in-game menu would not be positioned correctly.

v0.51.0 2021/11/27

What's new?

• B4DS mode: Support for up to 23 DSiWare titles have been added, making them playable on DS/DS lite consoles for the first time ever (For a list of supported titles, see this list here).
  • GO Series: 10 Second Run.
  • Ace Mathician.
  • Art Style: Aquia.
  • Aura-Aura Climber.
  • Art Style: BASE 10.
  • Dairojo! Samurai Defenders.
  • Dark Void Zero.
  • GO Series: Defense Wars.
  • Dragon's Lair.
  • Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp (USA version only).
  • DS WiFi Settings.
  • Famicom Wars DS: Ushinawareta Hikari.
  • Game & Watch: Ball.
  • Game & Watch: Chef.
  • Game & Watch: Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Game & Watch: Flagman.
  • Game & Watch: Helmet.
  • Game & Watch: Judge.
  • Game & Watch: Manhole.
  • Game & Watch: Mario's Cement Factory.
  • Game & Watch: Vermin.
  • Mighty Flip Champs.
  • Space Ace.
  • (For Debug DS consoles, additional support for 6 titles have been added.)
    • G.G. Series: All Breaker.
    • G.G. Series: Assault Buster.
    • BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale.
    • Mighty Milky Way.
    • Nintendo DSi XL Demo Video.
    • Nintendo DSi XL Demo Video: Volume 2.
• Soft-resetting speeds have improved, and now doesn't reboot the console, so you no longer need to wait some time before the game starts again.
• Shiny Pokémon hunters will find this feature useful, as it'll speed up the hunting process.

Bug fixes:

• Fixed Banana Cup causing a crash in Mario Kart DS.
• (Untested) The Power Washer minigame crash in Mario Party DS should now be fixed.
• Fixed Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery not booting on 3DS.
• Fixed Magic School Bus: Oceans not booting on 3DS.
• Brain Age Express: Sudoku no longer shows the Download failed message.

Known bugs:

• B4DS mode: None of the supported DSiWare titles (except Famicom Wars DS: Ushinawareta Hikari) can save data.
• B4DS mode: Due to memory limitations of retail DS consoles, audio will not play in Art Style: Aquia.
• B4DS mode: In Aura-Aura Climber, depending on how far you go in Endless Mode, the game will crash. Inserting a Memory Expansion Pak may prolong how far you can go up before the crash.
• B4DS mode: The Game & Watch DSiWare titles will softlock after finishing a game or exiting (usually in Game A mode).
• B4DS mode: Connecting to WiFi in Famicom Wars DS: Ushinawareta Hikari will cause the game to crash.
• Some SDK2.0 games (such as Super Mario 64 DS) do not boot due to the fast soft-reset implementation.
• Soft-resetting may not work properly in a few games, causing a crash as a result.

v0.50.2 2021/11/12

• B4DS mode: Nintendo DSi + Internet now boots!
• Saving is now stubbed out in a few DSiWare titles in order to proceed further, when running from a CycloDS iEvolution.
  • Known affected games:
    • A Little Bit of... Nintendo Touch Golf.
    • Asphalt 4: Elite Racing.
    • Aura-Aura Climber.
    • Brain Challenge.
    • Cave Story.
    • Ferrari GT: Evolution.
    • Plants vs. Zombies.
    • Puzzle League: Express.
    • Rayman.
    • Tetris Party Live.

Bug fixes:

• Fixed an overlooked bug due to optimized code, which caused AP-patching to not work properly for SDK5 games on DSi.
• Increased the file size limit of AP-fix .ips patches from 192KB to 256KB.
  • This fixes Rabbids Go Home (Only DS mode tested on DSi).
• B4DS mode: Fixed AP-patching not working properly, when using a Memory Expansion Pak.
• Fixed WiFi not working when running from a CycloDS iEvolution.
• (@Epicpkmn11) Fixed ARM7 RAM viewer randomly freezing.
• Fixed an overlooked bug which caused Kirby Canvas Curse to lockup on the logos with empty save data and with SWI Halt Hook turned on.
• Fixed EUR version of Hotel Dusk: Room 215 not booting.

Release notes.

Credits

Developers:

• Rocket Robz: Lead developer, DSi mode and DSiWare support, B4DS mode, general maintenance and updates.
• shutterbug2000: SDK5 support, help with DSi mode support, and some other implemented stuff.
• ahezard: Starting the project, former lead developer.
• Pk11: In-game menu, screenshot taking, and translation management.

Other:

• devkitPro: devkitARM and libnds.

Translators:

• Chinese Simplified: James-Makoto, R-YaTian.
• Chinese Traditional: James-Makoto, R-YaTian.
• Danish: Nadia Pedersen.
• Dutch: guusbuk, TM-47.
• French: Benjamin, Dhalian, Fleefie~, LinuxCat, TM-47.
• German: TheDude, TM-47.
• Greek: TM-47.
• Hebrew: Barawer, Yaniv Levin.
• Hungarian: TM-47.
• Indonesian: heydootdoot, ZianoGG.
• Italian: TM-47.
• Japanese: Pk11.
• Korean: I'm Not Cry, Myebyeol_NOTE.
• Norwegian: Nullified Block, TM-47.
• Polish: gierkowiec tv, TM-47.
• Portuguese (Portugal): Tavisc0.
• Portuguese (Brazil): Tavisc0, TM-47.
• Romanian: Tescu.
• Russian: Ckau.
• Spanish: Nintendo R, nuxa17, Radriant, SofyUchiha, TM-47.
• Swedish: TM-47.
• Turkish: Egehan.TWL, rewold20, TM-47.
• Ukrainian: MichaelBest01, TM-47.

External links

• Official website - https://wiki.ds-homebrew.com/nds-bootstrap
• GitHub (nds-bootstrap) - https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/nds-bootstrap
• GitHub (TWLBot) - https://github.com/TWLBot/Builds