Issues with initial boot of Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties booting their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit after flashing the SD card with the correct image. Symptoms include:

• The device displays the Nvidia logo briefly before the screen goes blank with a blinking underscore.
• This issue occurs consistently after multiple attempts to reinstall the image on both MacOS and Linux.
• Users have reported flashing the SD card multiple times, but the problem persists.
• The issue significantly impacts user experience, preventing access to the system and hindering development efforts.

Relevant hardware specifications include:

• Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit
• SD card used for booting

The frequency of this issue appears to be common among users, suggesting a potential underlying problem with either the flashing process or the bootloader configuration.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects:

   • If the SD card is faulty or not properly formatted, it may lead to boot failures.

2. Software Bugs or Conflicts:

   • Using an incompatible version of JetPack or not updating to the latest firmware could cause boot issues.

3. Configuration Errors:

   • Incorrect settings in the bootloader or failure to set the SD card as the primary boot option can prevent successful booting.

4. Driver Issues:

   • Missing or outdated drivers may lead to conflicts during the boot process.

5. Environmental Factors:

   • Power supply issues or overheating could result in unexpected behavior during boot.

6. User Errors or Misconfigurations:

   • Not following the correct flashing procedure or skipping necessary steps can lead to persistent boot failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Re-flash the SD Card:

   • Use SDK Manager to ensure that both the SD card and QSPI memory are correctly updated.
   • Follow these commands in a terminal:

     sudo ./flash.sh --no-systemimg -c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
     

2. Check Boot Order:

   • Access Boot Maintenance Manager by pressing ESC during startup.
   • Navigate to Boot Options and ensure that the SD card is set as the first boot option.

3. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure all connections are secure and that you are using a compatible monitor (HDMI or DisplayPort).
   • If using a custom carrier board, confirm compatibility with Jetson Orin Nano.

4. Utilize Serial Console for Logs:

   • Connect a TTL serial cable to access console logs during boot, which can provide insight into any errors occurring behind the scenes.
   • Use PuTTY on Windows for serial communication, setting it to 115200 baud rate, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit (8N1).

5. Update QSPI Bootloader:

   • If using JetPack 6.x for the first time, ensure that QSPI is updated by installing JetPack via SDK Manager on an Ubuntu host machine.

6. Testing Different Configurations:

   • Try different SD cards and formats (FAT32 recommended) to rule out media issues.
   • Test with different power supplies to eliminate power-related problems.

7. Documentation and Resources:

   • Refer to NVIDIA’s official documentation for detailed instructions on flashing and troubleshooting.
   • Keep your JetPack version consistent with your L4T version to avoid compatibility issues.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Always use SDK Manager for flashing rather than manual methods.
   • Regularly check for firmware updates and community forums for any known issues or fixes.

If issues persist after following these steps, consider reaching out to NVIDIA support or community forums with detailed logs for further assistance.