How to Get Into Recovery Mode

Issue Overview

Users of the NVIDIA Orin Nano Developer Board have reported difficulties in entering recovery mode. The primary symptoms include uncertainty about the correct procedure to initiate recovery mode and confusion regarding the hardware configuration necessary for this process. The issue arises during attempts to configure or troubleshoot the device, particularly when users seek to flash the device or recover from software issues.

Specific details from the discussion indicate that users are unsure if the board requires entering recovery mode, especially since it can boot from a microSD card directly. This has led to questions about whether recovery mode is necessary or beneficial for certain operations. The board’s configuration includes horizontal pins labeled “FC REC” and “GND,” which are essential for initiating recovery mode, but users have expressed confusion about their functionality.

The frequency of this issue appears to be relatively common among new users of the Orin Nano board, impacting their ability to perform critical tasks such as flashing firmware or recovering from system errors.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Configuration: Users may not be familiar with the physical layout of the board, particularly the location and function of the recovery mode pins.

• Lack of Documentation: Insufficient guidance on entering recovery mode may lead to user errors or misinterpretations about the necessity of this mode.

• Misunderstanding of Recovery Mode: Some users may not realize that recovery mode offers specific benefits beyond simply flashing the microSD card, such as firmware recovery or troubleshooting.

• User Errors: Incorrectly connecting jumpers or failing to follow the outlined steps may result in an inability to enter recovery mode.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Identify Recovery Mode Pins:

   • Locate the pins labeled “FC REC” and “GND” on the top side of the board. Ensure you are looking at the correct orientation as indicated in user images.

2. Acquire a Jumper:

   • Obtain a jumper similar to what was referenced in user replies. This is necessary for bridging the “FC REC” and “GND” pins.

3. Connect Jumper:

   • Place the jumper across the “FC REC” and “GND” pins. This action prepares the board to enter recovery mode when powered on.

4. Power On:

   • Connect the power jack to your device while ensuring that the jumper remains in place. This should boot your device into recovery mode.

5. Verify Connection:

   • Once powered on, connect your Orin Nano board to a host PC via USB.
   • Open a terminal on your host PC and run the command:

     lsusb
     

   • Look for an entry similar to:

     Bus <bbb> Device <ddd>: ID 0955: <nnnn> Nvidia Corp.
     

   • If you see this entry, you have successfully entered recovery mode.

6. Flashing Firmware:

   • If you need to flash firmware while in recovery mode, follow NVIDIA’s official documentation for guidance on using appropriate tools and commands.

7. Considerations for Future Use:

   • Familiarize yourself with NVIDIA’s documentation regarding recovery modes and flashing processes for future reference.
   • Regularly check for updates or additional resources that may clarify operations related to your development board.

8. Best Practices:

   • Always ensure that you have backups of important data before attempting firmware updates or entering recovery modes.
   • Keep your development environment and tools updated to avoid compatibility issues.

Unresolved Aspects

• Some users questioned whether entering recovery mode is necessary given that they can flash directly from a microSD card. Further investigation into potential features or benefits of recovery mode compared to direct flashing would be beneficial for users seeking more comprehensive knowledge about their device’s capabilities.