Stuck on Boot Screen – startup.nsh

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing a problem where the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit is unable to boot past the initial setup screen, getting stuck on the NVIDIA logo splash screen. This issue occurs after flashing a 64GB SD card with the appropriate image using Etcher and inserting it into the device. Symptoms include:

• The device displays the NVIDIA logo but fails to progress beyond this point.
• Users have attempted to connect peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard, and DisplayPort monitor, all of which appear to function correctly (indicated by a green light on the device).
• Initially, no Ethernet connection was established, leading users to question if this was a requirement for setup.
• After connecting Ethernet, users still encounter a similar boot issue.

This problem appears to be consistent among several users, suggesting that it may not be an isolated incident. The impact on user experience is significant as it prevents access to the operating system and hinders further development or testing.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this boot issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: Issues with the SD card itself or the Jetson hardware may prevent successful booting.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: Using a developer preview version of JetPack may introduce instability or bugs that affect booting.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the UEFI boot order may prevent the device from recognizing the SD card as a bootable option.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may lead to failures during the boot process.
• Environmental Factors: Insufficient power supply or overheating could impact performance and stability during startup.
• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrect flashing procedures or failure to update necessary components like the QSPI bootloader can lead to boot failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To resolve the boot issue with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Boot Order in UEFI Menu:

   • Access the UEFI menu during startup (press ESC when prompted).
   • Navigate to Boot Maintenance Manager → Boot Options → Change Boot Order.
   • Ensure that the SD card is set as the first option.

2. Check SD Card Integrity:

   • Use a different SD card if available, as issues can arise from faulty cards.
   • Confirm that the SD card is properly flashed with a compatible JetPack version (preferably JetPack 5.x instead of 6.x for stability).

3. Re-flash Using SDK Manager:

   • If possible, connect the Jetson to a host PC running Ubuntu and use SDK Manager to re-flash both the SD card and QSPI bootloader.
   • Ensure that you follow all steps correctly during flashing, including entering recovery mode (shorting specific pins if necessary).

4. Force Recovery Mode:

   • To enter recovery mode, short pins 9 and 10 on the board while powering it on. This allows for proper flashing and diagnostics.

5. Obtain Serial Console Logs:

   • Connect a USB-to-TTL serial cable to capture logs during boot. This can provide insight into where the process fails.
   • Use terminal software (like PuTTY) set to 115200 baud rate for logging.

6. Test Different Hardware Configurations:

   • Disconnect all peripherals except for essential ones (monitor, keyboard) and see if that allows successful booting.
   • Try using different display ports or cables (e.g., HDMI instead of DisplayPort).

7. Check Documentation for Updates:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for any updates regarding firmware or software that might address known issues.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Always use stable versions of JetPack unless testing is specifically required on developer previews.
   • Regularly check for updates from Nvidia regarding firmware and software compatibility.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve their issues with booting on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. If problems persist after these troubleshooting efforts, further investigation into hardware defects or deeper software conflicts may be necessary.