nds-bootstrap

nds-bootstrap
nds-bootstrap
General
Author	Rocket Robz, shutterbug2000, ahezard, Pk11
Type	Title Launchers
Version	0.52.0
License	GPL-3.0
Last Updated	2021/12/10
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

v0.52.0 (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