Jetson Orin Nano Beeps Continuously, Won’t Boot Up, and Ethernet Port Lights Up

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano have reported a critical issue where the device emits a continuous beep when powered on, fails to boot up, and only the Ethernet port lights up. The symptoms include:

• Continuous Beeping: The board emits a persistent beep sound, which is often associated with hardware errors.
• Power Indicators: The power LEDs are off, and the fans do not rotate, indicating that the board may not be receiving adequate power or is in a fault state.
• Heating Components: Users have noted that screws holding down the Wi-Fi card become unusually hot during this process.
• Failed Boot Attempts: Attempts to re-flash the device and various power supply configurations have not resolved the issue.
• Ethernet Port Behavior: The Ethernet port lights up brightly initially but then dims and remains in that state.

This problem typically occurs when users attempt to power on the device after it was functioning normally for a few weeks. The frequency of this issue appears to be isolated to specific instances rather than widespread reports, but it significantly impacts user experience by preventing the device from booting.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes could lead to this issue:

• Hardware Defects: A malfunctioning component on the board could lead to failure in booting and continuous beeping.

• Power Supply Issues: Inadequate or faulty power supply can prevent the board from receiving enough power to initialize properly.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect jumper settings or misconfigurations during setup can lead to failure in booting.

• Driver Issues: Corrupted or incompatible drivers may prevent proper initialization of hardware components.

• Environmental Factors: Overheating due to inadequate cooling or improper ventilation could cause components to fail.

• User Errors: Incorrect connections or setup procedures can lead to issues during boot.

Each of these causes can contribute to symptoms such as continuous beeping and failure to boot.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To resolve the issue, follow these detailed troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Power Supply:

   • Ensure that you are using a compatible power supply. The Jetson Orin Nano requires a specific voltage and current rating. Verify that your power supply meets these specifications.

2. Inspect Connections:

   • Check all physical connections, including USB-C and DC power connections. Ensure they are secure and undamaged.

3. Verify Jumper Settings:

   • If you used jumpers (like connecting FC REC with GND), double-check that they are correctly configured according to the official documentation.

4. Perform a Hard Reset:

   • Disconnect all power sources and peripherals. Wait for a few minutes before reconnecting everything and powering on again.

5. Monitor Temperature:

   • If any components feel excessively hot (like the Wi-Fi card screws), allow the device to cool down before attempting to power it on again.

6. Reflash Firmware:

   • If you haven’t already, attempt to reflash the firmware using a reliable method. Follow these commands for reflashing via terminal:

   sudo ./flash.sh jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
   

7. Test with Different Hardware Configurations:

   • If possible, test with another Jetson Orin Nano board or different peripherals (like another power supply) to isolate whether the issue is with the board itself or external components.

8. Check for Updates:

   • Ensure that you have the latest firmware and driver updates installed. Check Nvidia’s official site for any available updates for your model.

9. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for troubleshooting steps specific to your model, as well as any known issues related to hardware or software configurations.

10. Seek Community Support:

    • If none of these steps resolve your issue, consider posting detailed information about your problem in relevant forums or contacting Nvidia support directly for further assistance.

By following these steps systematically, users can diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to their Jetson Orin Nano boards effectively.