Installing TWiLight Menu++ (Flashcard)

Installing #

1. Download the latest TWiLightMenu-Flashcard.7z
   • If it does not download, see the release page and scroll down to Assets to download the file
2. Open or extract TWiLightMenu-Flashcard.7z
3. Drag and drop the _nds folder to your flashcard’s microSD card root
4. Drag and drop the BOOT.NDS file to your flashcard’s microSD card root
5. Drag and drop the roms folder to your flashcard’s microSD card root
6. If you already have save data, move your .sav files, which are in your DS ROM location, to a new folder called saves, which also goes in the DS ROM location
7. DS Phat/Lite users: If booting BOOT.NDS causes a white screen lock-up, then follow the below steps for autobooting, and try again

Optional: If you want to play games from before the DS(i) & GBA and/or use other additional features (known as add-ons), see Installing Add-ons.

Autobooting TWiLight Menu++ #

1. Open or extract TWiLightMenu-Flashcard.7z
2. Open the Autoboot folder
3. Open the README.txt file to help find which autoboot files are appropriate for your flashcard
4. Open the (your flashcard) folder
5. Drag and drop the contents to the root of the flashcard’s microSD card
   • Ensure the (your flashcard) folder is already open, do not drag and drop the folder itself onto the root
   • Skip this, if you don’t see your flashcard listed
6. DS Phat/Lite users: Go to settings in the DS menu, and turn on auto-start, so your flashcard will start on boot

Installing more game loaders #

By default, TWiLight Menu++ uses nds-bootstrap to run DS games. On DS flashcards, nds-bootstrap uses it’s B4DS mode in order to run games, so compatibility will be slightly lower than expected.

To increase compatibility, please follow this section.

Pico Loader #

Pico Loader is the smallest and fastest game loader option available. Most DS games will work properly, with a few that either don’t boot or not work properly.

Please note:

• You’ll lose the ability to use cheats and the nds-bootstrap in-game menu (containing features such as taking screenshots) when running games in this fashion.
  If you want to retain those functionalities, you can set the game loader to pico for either all games or a specific game. Read this sub-section to find out how.

1. Open the Pico Loader download page
2. Download the correct Pico Loader zip file for your flashcard
   • Read Supported platforms to find out which one to use
3. Drag and drop the .bin files inside the zip file to the _pico folder on the root of the flashcard’s microSD card
4. Open TWLMenu++ Settings, switch to Games and Apps settings page, and set Game Loader to pico, so Pico Loader will be used instead of nds-bootstrap
   • Alternatively you may do this as a per-game setting by pressing Y on a selected game and changing the Game Loader option there
   • If you want to retain the nds-bootstrap features and/or if the game does not work with the kernel, you can keep the Game Loader setting as nds-bootstrap

Flashcard Kernel #

This restores the original flashcard-level compatibility with varying boot times depending on the flashcard.

Please note:

• This only works if your flashcard is set to autoboot TWiLight Menu++. See above section for how to do so.
• Some flashcards do not support running games in this fashion, and only support nds-bootstrap. If you are using a flashcard listed under Known unsupported flashcards, you are done with this guide.
• You’ll lose the ability to use cheats and the nds-bootstrap in-game menu (containing features such as taking screenshots) when running games in this fashion.
  If you want to retain those functionalities, you can set the game loader to nds-bootstrap for either all games or a specific game. Read this sub-section to find out how.

Known unsupported flashcards:

• Any Slot-2 flashcard (such as G6 Lite, M3 Adapter, Max Media Dock, SuperCard MiniSD, etc.)
• Action Replay DS(i)
• CycloDS Evolution
• CycloDS iEvolution