First Boot Failed with SD Card on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties during the first boot of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit when using an SD card. The specific symptoms include:

• The NVIDIA logo appears for several seconds
• The screen then goes blank, displaying a "no signal" message
• The board’s light remains on, and the fan continues to run
• The system fails to complete the boot process

This issue occurs during the initial setup of the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, specifically when attempting to boot from an SD card flashed with the jp60-orin-nano-sd-card-image downloaded from JetPack. The problem persists despite following the official instructions provided by NVIDIA for flashing the SD card using Balena Etcher.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect Image Flashing: The SD card image may not have been properly flashed, leading to boot failures.

2. Corrupted or Incompatible SD Card: The SD card itself might be faulty or incompatible with the Jetson Orin Nano.

3. Hardware Connectivity Issues: Loose connections or faulty cables between the dev board and the monitor could cause display problems.

4. Outdated or Incompatible Firmware: The board’s firmware might not be compatible with the flashed image.

5. Power Supply Problems: Insufficient or unstable power supply could prevent proper booting.

6. Software Bugs: There might be issues with the jp60-orin-nano-sd-card-image itself.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use NVIDIA SDK Manager:

   • The NVIDIA SDK Manager is recommended as the most reliable method for flashing and setting up Jetson devices.
   • To use SDK Manager without physically shorting pins, try rebooting into recovery mode using the following command (if you have UART or SSH access):

     sudo reboot --force forced-recovery
     

2. Alternative Flashing Method:
   If you prefer not to use SDK Manager, follow these steps:

   • Download the latest Jetson Linux package from the NVIDIA Developer website.
   • Extract the package and locate the SD card image.
   • Use a reliable flashing tool like Etcher or dd command on Linux to flash the image.
   • Ensure you’re using a high-quality, compatible SD card (preferably from NVIDIA’s recommended list).

3. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Double-check all connections, including power, HDMI, and peripherals.
   • Try using different cables and ports if available.
   • Ensure the monitor is set to the correct input source.

4. Check Power Supply:

   • Verify that you’re using the recommended power supply for the Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Try a different power adapter if available.

5. Update Firmware:

   • If possible, update the board’s firmware to the latest version using the Jetson Linux package.

6. Try Alternative Boot Methods:

   • If available, attempt to boot from other sources like eMMC or a different SD card to isolate the issue.

7. Consult NVIDIA Documentation:

   • Review the official Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit Getting Started guide for any steps you might have missed.

8. Community Resources:

   • Check the NVIDIA Developer Forums for similar issues and potential solutions.
   • Consider using community-created guides, such as the "Install Jetpack Without SDK Manager" tutorial from Proventus Nova, which offers an alternative approach to setting up Jetson devices.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consider reaching out to NVIDIA support or posting a detailed description of your problem, including all troubleshooting steps attempted, on the NVIDIA Developer Forums for further assistance.