Jetson Orin black screen after upgrade to Jetpack 6.1
Issue Overview
The issue reported involves a black screen on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board following an upgrade from Jetpack 6.0 to 6.1. Users have noted that after restarting the device post-upgrade, no logo or display output is visible on the monitor, indicating a potential failure in the boot process or display initialization.
Symptoms:
- Black screen with no output after reboot.
- No Nvidia logo appears during startup.
Context:
- The problem occurs immediately after upgrading the Jetpack SDK.
- Users have attempted to revert to earlier versions of Jetpack (6.0 and 5.1.3) by flashing the SD card, but these efforts have not resolved the issue.
- Some users report successful initial setup with JetPack 5.1.3, but experience display issues after upgrading to JetPack 6.x, particularly when using modern displays like OLED TVs.
Relevant Specifications:
- Device: Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano
- Software: Jetpack SDK versions 6.0 and 6.1
Frequency:
- The issue appears to be consistent for users who have upgraded to Jetpack 6.1, particularly those without access to additional hardware for debugging.
Impact:
The black screen significantly hampers user experience by rendering the device unusable, preventing access to its features and capabilities.
Possible Causes
Several potential causes for the black screen issue can be identified:
Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The upgrade may introduce compatibility issues with existing hardware configurations or defects in the device itself.
Software Bugs or Conflicts: Jetpack 6.1 may contain bugs or conflicts with existing software that could prevent the system from booting properly.
Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings during the upgrade process might lead to improper initialization of system components.
Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may not support the new version of Jetpack, leading to display issues.
Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could affect performance and lead to boot failures.
User Errors or Misconfigurations: Mistakes made during the upgrade process, such as not following installation instructions correctly, could result in system failures.
Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes
To address the black screen issue on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, follow these troubleshooting steps:
Update:
Use HDMI Capture Device
If available, an HDMI capture device can serve as a workaround:
- This workaround may be particularly useful when working with high-end displays like OLED TVs
- Connect the Jetson’s HDMI output to an HDMI capture device
- Connect the capture device’s output to your display
- This solution has been confirmed to work even with non-4K capture devices
Verify Power Supply:
- Ensure that the power supply is functioning correctly and providing adequate power to the device.
Check Connections:
- Confirm that all cables (HDMI/DisplayPort) are securely connected and that the monitor is powered on and set to the correct input source.
Reflash SD Card:
- If you have access to a different machine:
- Download Jetpack 6.0 or an earlier version (5.1.3) from Nvidia’s official site.
- Use a tool like Balena Etcher to flash the downloaded image onto your SD card.
- Insert the SD card back into the Jetson Orin and attempt to boot again.
- If you have access to a different machine:
Access Recovery Mode:
- If possible, use a jumper wire to connect specific pins on the board (refer to official documentation for pin configuration) and boot into recovery mode.
- This mode may allow you to reset settings or access logs for further diagnosis.
Check for Debug Logs:
- If you can access another Ubuntu machine, consider connecting your Jetson device via USB and using terminal commands to check for logs:
dmesg | grep -i error - This command will help identify any boot errors logged by the system.
- If you can access another Ubuntu machine, consider connecting your Jetson device via USB and using terminal commands to check for logs:
Update Drivers:
- After successfully booting, ensure all drivers are updated using:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
- After successfully booting, ensure all drivers are updated using:
Consult Documentation:
- Review Nvidia’s official documentation for any notes on known issues with Jetpack 6.1 and recommended fixes.
Community Support:
- Engage with forums or community support channels where other users may have encountered similar issues and found solutions.
Recommended Approach
Users who successfully reverted back to Jetpack 6.0 report that this was an effective solution for restoring functionality. It is advisable for affected users to attempt this reversion as a primary troubleshooting step if they experience a black screen after upgrading.
Unresolved Aspects
Further investigation may be required regarding specific hardware configurations that are incompatible with Jetpack 6.1, as well as any persistent software bugs that could lead to similar issues in future updates.
I tried setting up my Jetson Orin Nano for the first time today. I followed the user guide but unfortunately wasn’t lucky (I guess I was), so I had to update the firmware. I used an LG C2 OLED TV for setting up my Jetson. Initially, installing JetPack 5.1.3 and updating firmware worked perfectly as described in the user guide, and I was able to see output on the TV.
However, after booting JetPack 6, I couldn’t see anything other than a black screen. I didn’t have jumper wires on hand and had suspicions about the display output. Luckily, I had an HDMI capturer at hand (without 4K), so I connected the input to it and output that to my TV, and it worked.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for this detailed feedback! It’s interesting that you were able to get initial setup working with JetPack 5.1.3 on the LG C2 OLED before encountering issues with JetPack 6. Your experience suggests there might be specific HDMI compatibility changes in the newer version. The capture card workaround is a creative solution I hadn’t considered. I’ll update the post to include your experience as another troubleshooting path, especially for users who might have similar display equipment available.