Unable to Enter Recovery Mode on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties entering recovery mode on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board. The problem occurs during the initial setup process when attempting to flash JetPack 6. Symptoms include:

• Inability to enter recovery mode despite following standard procedures
• Confusion about the correct indicators of recovery mode
• Failure to recognize the device on USB ports
• Inconsistent behavior when using jumpers to trigger recovery mode
• Boot failures after unsuccessful flashing attempts

The issue significantly impacts users’ ability to set up and update their Jetson Orin Nano devices, preventing them from installing the latest JetPack software and utilizing the board’s full capabilities.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect Recovery Mode Procedure: Users may be misunderstanding or incorrectly executing the steps to enter recovery mode.

2. Faulty Jumper or Connection: The jumper used to trigger recovery mode may be defective or improperly placed.

3. Incompatible Software Versions: Mismatched versions of QSPI firmware and SD card images can prevent proper booting and recovery mode access.

4. Hardware Issues: There could be underlying hardware problems with the Jetson Orin Nano board or its connections.

5. Power Cycling Errors: Improper power cycling during the recovery mode process may lead to boot failures.

6. SDK Manager Conflicts: Issues with the NVIDIA SDK Manager on the host PC might interfere with the flashing process.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Correct Recovery Mode Procedure

   • Power off the Jetson Orin Nano completely
   • Place the jumper on the recovery mode pins
   • Power on the device while the jumper is in place
   • Remove the jumper after powering on
   • The device should now be in recovery mode with no display output

2. Verify Recovery Mode

   • On the host PC, open a terminal and run:

     lsusb
     

   • Look for an NVIDIA device in the list, indicating the Jetson is in recovery mode

3. Check and Replace Jumper

   • Ensure the jumper is properly seated on the correct pins
   • Try using a different jumper if available
   • Clean the jumper and pin contacts to ensure good connection

4. Align Software Versions

   • Ensure that the QSPI firmware and SD card image are from the same JetPack/L4T release
   • For JetPack 6 (L4T R36.x), use a compatible SD card image
   • If mixing versions, reflash both the QSPI and SD card with matching versions

5. Proper Power Cycling

   • Always perform a full power cycle when attempting to enter recovery mode
   • Disconnect and reconnect the power supply, don’t rely on software reboot

6. SDK Manager and Flashing Process

   • Use a native Ubuntu 22.04 installation on the host PC, not a VM or WSL2
   • Ensure all prerequisites are installed for the SDK Manager
   • If flashing fails, try the following:
     • Uncheck the flashing option in SDK Manager if only installing apps
     • Boot the Jetson normally for app installations, not in recovery mode
     • Use a direct Ethernet connection between the host PC and Jetson for more reliable communication

7. Alternative Flashing Method

   • If SDK Manager fails, try using the command-line flashing tools provided by NVIDIA
   • Download the L4T (Linux for Tegra) package matching your desired JetPack version
   • Follow the manual flashing instructions in the L4T documentation

8. Hardware Inspection

   • Check all connections, including power and USB cables
   • Inspect the board for any visible damage or loose components
   • Try a different USB port or cable for connecting to the host PC

9. Recovery from Failed Flash

   • If the device won’t boot after a failed flash attempt:
     • Create a new SD card with the correct JetPack 6 image
     • Attempt to boot from this new SD card
     • If successful, proceed with a full reflash of both QSPI and SD card

10. Documentation and Support

    • Refer to the official NVIDIA Jetson documentation for detailed instructions
    • Join the NVIDIA Developer forums for community support
    • Consider reaching out to NVIDIA support if issues persist

By following these steps systematically, users should be able to successfully enter recovery mode and flash their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano with JetPack 6. If problems persist after trying these solutions, it may indicate a more serious hardware issue requiring professional assessment.