Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board Boot Failure After SSD Cloning

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board have reported boot failures after attempting to clone their SSD. The specific symptoms include:

• The system fails to boot from the cloned SSD
• Upon startup, the system enters the UEFI Shell instead of the expected operating system
• Both the original and cloned SSDs are no longer bootable
• The UEFI Shell displays a list of .efi files (179 in total)
• The boot order in UEFI settings shows the SSD at the top, but the system still fails to boot from it

The issue occurs after users attempt to clone their SSD using the ‘dd’ command, a common method for creating exact disk images. The problem affects both the source and destination SSDs, rendering them non-bootable.

Possible Causes

1. Incomplete or corrupted cloning process: The ‘dd’ command may have terminated prematurely or encountered errors during the cloning process, resulting in an incomplete or corrupted disk image.

2. Bootloader corruption: The cloning process may have overwritten or damaged critical bootloader components, preventing the system from locating and loading the operating system.

3. Partition table issues: The cloning process might have altered the partition table structure, making it unreadable by the UEFI firmware.

4. UEFI firmware configuration: The boot process may be affected by incorrect UEFI settings or firmware incompatibilities with the cloned drive.

5. Hardware compatibility issues: There could be compatibility problems between the cloned SSD and the Jetson Orin Nano Dev board’s hardware configuration.

6. File system corruption: The cloning process may have resulted in file system corruption, preventing the operating system from loading properly.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify SSD detection in UEFI:

   • Enter the UEFI settings during boot
   • Confirm that both SSDs are recognized in the boot device list
   • Ensure the desired SSD is set as the primary boot device

2. Attempt to boot from different devices:

   • Use the UEFI boot menu to try booting from alternative devices or partitions
   • If available, attempt to boot from a USB drive with a known working operating system

3. Examine UEFI Shell information:

   • In the UEFI Shell, use the ls command to list available file systems and devices
   • Look for any error messages or unusual entries in the device list

4. Check SSD partitions and file systems:

   • Connect the affected SSDs to a host PC using a USB adapter
   • Use disk management tools (e.g., GParted on Linux or Disk Management on Windows) to examine the partition structure
   • Attempt to mount individual partitions and check for file system integrity

5. Recover data from the SSDs:

   • If possible, use data recovery software to extract important files from the affected SSDs
   • Create backups of any recoverable data before attempting further repairs

6. Rebuild the bootloader:

   • Boot the Jetson Orin Nano Dev board using a live USB with the appropriate operating system
   • Use bootloader repair tools specific to your operating system (e.g., Boot-Repair for Linux) to attempt to fix the bootloader

7. Reinstall the operating system:

   • If all else fails, consider performing a clean installation of the operating system
   • Use the official Nvidia Jetson OS images and follow the proper installation procedures

8. Verify hardware compatibility:

   • Ensure that the SSDs are compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano Dev board
   • Check for any firmware updates for the dev board that might address SSD compatibility issues

9. Consult Nvidia support:

   • If the issue persists, reach out to Nvidia’s support channels or community forums for more specific guidance on Jetson Orin Nano Dev board boot issues

10. Use proper cloning methods in the future:

    • Instead of ‘dd’, consider using specialized cloning software designed for SSDs
    • Always create a backup of important data before attempting any cloning or disk operations

By following these steps, users can attempt to diagnose and resolve the boot failure issue on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board after the SSD cloning process. If the problem persists, it may be necessary to seek additional support from Nvidia or consider replacing the affected SSDs.