Unable to Flash JetPack 6.0 GA Image on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties flashing the JetPack 6.0 GA image onto a microSD card for the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit. The specific symptoms include:

• BalenaEtcher getting stuck at the "Finishing…" stage and never completing the flashing process
• The issue persists across multiple computers (MacOS and Windows) and different SD card brands and capacities
• Flashing other images (e.g., Debian ISO) works without problems
• When attempting to boot with the partially flashed SD card, the device gets stuck in a boot loop or displays error messages

The problem occurs during the initial setup process, specifically after updating the firmware and when trying to flash JetPack 6.0. This issue significantly impacts the user’s ability to set up and use the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit.

Possible Causes

1. Corrupted Image File: The JetPack 6.0 GA image (jp60-orin-nano-sd-card-image.zip) appears to be corrupted, as evidenced by CRC errors and unsuccessful flash attempts.

2. Incompatibility with Flashing Tools: The corrupted image may be causing issues with BalenaEtcher and command-line flashing methods.

3. Recovery Mode Activation: Multiple failed boot attempts can cause the device to enter recovery mode, preventing normal boot procedures.

4. Outdated Firmware: Although not the primary cause in this case, incompatible or outdated firmware could potentially cause boot issues.

5. SD Card Compatibility: While less likely given the variety of cards tested, there could be compatibility issues between specific SD cards and the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use JetPack 6.1 Image:

   • Download the JetPack 6.1 image (jp61-orin-nano-sd-card-image.zip) instead of the 6.0 version.
   • Flash the 6.1 image to the SD card using BalenaEtcher or the command-line method.

2. Verify Image Integrity:

   • Check the SHA256 checksum of the downloaded image file:

     shasum -a 256 jp61-orin-nano-sd-card-image.zip
     

   • Compare the output with the official checksum provided by Nvidia (if available).

3. Reset Device to Normal Boot Mode:
   If the device is stuck in recovery mode, follow these steps:

   • Press ESC during boot to enter the UEFI Menu.
   • Navigate to Device Manager → NVIDIA Configuration → L4T Configuration → OS chain A status.
   • If the value is "Unbootable", change it to "Normal".
   • Save and exit, then reboot the device.

4. Command-line Flashing (for MacOS):
   If BalenaEtcher fails, try the command-line method:

   unzip -p jp61-orin-nano-sd-card-image.zip | sudo dd of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m
   

   Replace ‘X’ with the appropriate disk number for your SD card.

5. Use SDK Manager on Ubuntu:
   If possible, use an Ubuntu system to flash the image using NVIDIA SDK Manager, which may provide a more reliable flashing process.

6. Check for Firmware Updates:
   Ensure that the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit’s firmware is up to date before attempting to flash the new image.

7. Try Alternative Flashing Tools:
   If BalenaEtcher continues to fail, consider using other flashing tools like Rufus (for Windows) or dd (for Linux/MacOS).

8. Monitor Device Temperature:
   Ensure that the device is not overheating during the flashing process, which could cause failures or corruption.

9. Report the Issue:
   If problems persist with the JetPack 6.0 image, report the issue to NVIDIA support or through their developer forums, providing detailed logs and system information.

By following these steps, users should be able to successfully flash the JetPack 6.1 image and boot their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit. If issues persist, it’s recommended to seek further assistance from NVIDIA’s official support channels or developer community.