*** Please note that this reply is generated by LLM automatically ***
Welcome to the community! I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot the issues with your Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit.
First, let’s break down the information you’ve provided:
Hardware setup:
Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit
128GB SanDisk Extreme microSD card
DisplayPort monitor
USB keyboard and mouse
Power via supplied power pack
Steps taken:
On first startup, no SD card inserted, you pressed Escape to enter UEFI and saw the firmware version 3643GCID.
Based on that, you downloaded the JetPack 4.6 SD card image from NVIDIA’s website.
You used balenaEtcher to flash the ZIP file directly to the SD card.
Inserted the SD card and powered on the device.
Boot behavior:
With the monitor plugged in: You see the attached picture (unnamed 19201440 171 KB).
Without the monitor plugged in: The fan stays running for at least 15-20 minutes, but when you plug in the monitor later, there’s no output.
Now, let’s analyze the situation:
Firmware version: You mentioned the firmware version 3643GCID, which is not explicitly mentioned in the context. However, it’s essential to note that the context mentions BMC Firmware 1.3.5, which might be related to the firmware version you’re using.
JetPack 4.6 SD card image: You downloaded the correct image from NVIDIA’s website, which is a good start.
Flashing the SD card: You used balenaEtcher to flash the ZIP file directly to the SD card, which is a recommended tool for flashing SD cards.
Boot behavior: The fact that the fan stays running for an extended period without the monitor plugged in suggests that the device is trying to boot, but there might be an issue with the display output.
Comparison with the context:
The context mentions a “High fan speed at idle” issue, which might be related to the fan running continuously without the monitor plugged in. However, the context also mentions that a fix is available in a future firmware release (BMC Firmware 1.3.5). It’s unclear whether this issue is related to your problem, but it’s essential to investigate further.
Guidance on how to proceed:
Verify the SD card image: Double-check that you downloaded the correct JetPack 4.6 SD card image for your Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit.
Check the SD card: Ensure that the SD card is properly seated and not damaged.
Monitor output: Try using a different monitor or a different DisplayPort cable to rule out any issues with the display output.
Boot logs: If possible, try to capture the boot logs to see if there are any error messages that can help diagnose the issue.
Firmware update: If you suspect that the firmware version might be the cause of the issue, you can try updating to the latest firmware version (if available).
If none of these steps resolve the issue, please provide more information about the boot behavior, such as any error messages or beeps, and I’ll do my best to assist you further.
*** Please give the thumbs up if you get answers you like. Or provide feedback to help us improve the answer. ***
Thank you for the warm welcome and the helpful suggestions so far.
Let me clarify the core issue I’m experiencing with my Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit:
The actual problem:
I cannot get past the BIOS/UEFI screen. My goal is to boot into JetPack and use the system — but I’m stuck at a BIOS-like or splash screen. I never reach the Ubuntu desktop or any kind of initial setup. The system does not appear to boot from the SD card, and I cannot interact with it beyond the UEFI screen.
My setup:
Board: Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit
Firmware: Shows version 36.4.3-GCID in UEFI
SD card: Brand-new 128GB SanDisk Extreme microSD
JetPack version: Downloaded JetPack 6.2 from NVIDIA’s official website
Flashing tool: Used balenaEtcher to flash the ZIP file directly to the SD card
Power: Using the power supply included with the kit
Display: Tested 3 different monitors and 2 DisplayPort cables — same behavior
Boot behavior:
With monitor plugged in: I see the NVIDIA logo or BIOS/UEFI screen, then it hangs
Without monitor: Fan runs continuously, but plugging in the monitor later shows no video output
Clarifications:
I did not use JetPack 4.6 — I used JetPack 6.2, which is what NVIDIA lists for this board
The fan is not the issue — I understand it’s controlled by system temperature and nvfancontrol.service, but the OS never loads far enough for that to be relevant
I’m not getting any error messages or beeps — just a hang at the splash screen or UEFI with no progress
Also, if JetPack 6.2 is known to have issues with the current firmware, would flashing JetPack 6.1 via SDK Manager be a more reliable path to getting started? If so where is this file located?
Thanks again for your time and support. I’m just trying to reach the point where I can use the system as intended.
Just wanted to post a conclusion to my issue, in case it helps someone else troubleshooting the same problem.
This morning, I re-flashed the SD card using balenaEtcher, and everything is now working properly.
The root of the issue was that I was mistakenly flashing the JetPack ZIP file directly, rather than extracting it first. Once I extracted the ZIP and flashed the actual image file inside, the Jetson booted up correctly on the first try.
I know — rookie mistake — but I figured I’d share it anyway in case someone else runs into the same roadblock.
Ongoing Issues with Jetson Startup and Update Process
I’m running into persistent issues again.
Initial Setup Behavior
After my last update, I thought the problem was due to not properly extracting the image before flashing—but that wasn’t the cause. Here’s what I’ve observed:
If you plug in the Jetson for the initial startup (using a JetPack 6.2-flashed SD card), the system tends to hang.
If you power-cycle the board a few times (unplug and replug), it eventually proceeds to the Ubuntu setup screen and completes the onboarding process as expected.
Issue After Ubuntu Setup and Updates
The problems start again after finishing the initial Ubuntu setup:
I ran a software update.
After the update, the system prompts for a restart.
Upon selecting restart, the system reboots to the NVIDIA BIOS screen showing an “update progress” bar.
Once complete, the screen flashes briefly and then hangs indefinitely (I have a video of this).
Power-cycling just leads back to the same hang.
Troubleshooting Attempts
Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
Reflashed the SD card
Repeated the entire process, but this time I manually selected “Do not update on restart” before rebooting. Still got stuck at the same BIOS screen.
Manual Startup Using Boot Manager
After it hung again, I power-cycled and entered the startup manager via F11. I selected the SD device manually, which got me back to the Ubuntu home screen.
Full System Update + Restart (Again)
I performed a full update again and restarted, expecting the same issue. Sure enough, it hung again at the BIOS screen. I tried the F11 trick again—this time it didn’t work.
Additional Notes
I’m stuck in a repeating failure cycle at this point.
I’ve seen reports that Jetson boards are sensitive to certain SD cards. I’ve tested both a SanDisk Extreme 128GB and a SanDisk Ultra 64GB with no noticeable difference in behavior.
I’ve probably reflashed these cards 15–20 times during this troubleshooting process.
