Orin Nano Black Screen Issue

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit are experiencing a black screen issue during startup. After the NVIDIA logo appears, the screen turns black and the cooling fan on the kit stops working. This problem persists even after reflashing the SD card with Jetpack 5.1.3.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect flashing procedure
2. Corrupted SD card image
3. Hardware compatibility issues
4. Firmware or software bugs
5. Power supply problems

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Proper Flashing Procedure

To ensure correct flashing, follow these steps:

1. Use a host PC running Ubuntu 20.04.
2. Set the Jetson kit to recovery mode:
   • Connect the developer kit to the host PC.
   • Short the ground (GND) and force recovery (FC REC) pins on the board.
   • Power on the developer kit.
3. Verify the device is detected:

   $ lsusb
   

4. Use NVIDIA SDK Manager for flashing:
   • Select the correct Jetpack version and hardware.
   • Proceed with the setup process.

2. Manual Flashing Method

If SDK Manager fails, try manual flashing:

1. Navigate to the L4T directory:

   cd ~/nvidia/nvidia_sdk/JetPack_5.1.3_Linux_JETSON_ORIN_NANO_TARGETS/Linux_for_Tegra
   

2. Run the flash command:

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

3. Initrd Flashing Method

If previous methods fail, try the initrd flashing method:

sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device mmcblk1p1 \
  -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_external.xml -p "-c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" \
  --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal

4. Check Power Supply

Ensure the power supply is adequate and stable. Use the recommended power adapter for the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit.

5. Verify Hardware Connections

1. Check all cable connections, including the HDMI cable.
2. Ensure the SD card is properly seated in its slot.
3. Inspect for any visible hardware damage.

6. Update to Latest Jetpack

If possible, try updating to Jetpack 6.0 or the latest available version, as it may contain fixes for known issues.

7. Check for Firmware Updates

Look for any available firmware updates for the Jetson Orin Nano and apply them if available.

8. Monitor Serial Console

Connect to the serial console during boot to check for any error messages that might provide more insight into the issue.

9. Contact NVIDIA Support

If none of the above solutions work, consider reaching out to NVIDIA’s official support channels for further assistance.