[Solved] Boot Issues

[dedseason]

Recently, I'm having boot issues with my pine64 1GB model.

I normally run the board as a headless server and the uptime was almost 3 months. I run transmission-daemon, plexmediaserver, and ssh-server on the board. For OS, I was using Debian Jesse (I think kernel version 3.10, but not 100% sure).

Additional information:

• SSH runs on a non-standard (not 22) port (no VPN)
  
• Normally I have external HDDs plugged into the board via an externally powered USB hub
  
• Board does not boot with or without Ethernet
  
• Board does not boot with HDMI plugged in
  
• Board does not boot with or without external USB hub plugged in
  
• I've been using the OnePlus One charger as a power supply for over a year without an problem (I believe it's 5V 2A)
  
• I have tried other phone chargers as well to no avail
  
• When power is supplied, board light turns red but I cannot ssh into the board nor does it power an external display via HDMI
  
• My SD card is G.Skill 32GB Class 10 MicroSDHC
  

Any ideas as to what could be the issue?

[MarkHaysHarris777]

Problems like this are almost always PSU power related;  but, also corruption of SD card cannot be ruled out.  

Often if you can get it to boot up, it will run for a long time on a marginal power supply;  boot up creates spikes that can cause issues if the PSU is marginal;  I will not argue about it though.

We recommend 5.1v @2500ma  2.5A

Also, Samsung Evo Plus Class 10 cards, 32Gb.

There have been many enhancements lately;  you might try a newer kernel since you're almost certainly going to have to reload the SD card anyway.  Don't use a charger, get yourself a good switching power supply ; two wire 18-22 AWG and power the board via the euler bus.  

There are several good articles in the DCIN section of the forum; with pics.

[pfeerick]

While Marcus is right that the PSU is the culprit in a lot of cases, it seems odd that you would get nearly 3 months of uptime and then suddenly it refuses to co-operate... so I'd be more inclined to think SD card corruption or failure also. Have you tried another SD card, or a fresh image?

Has that system had any recent updates that could have broken something?

[dedseason]

Yeah, I could definitely swap out the PSU, but let me try first to see if it's an SD card corruption issue by flashing a new image on the SD card.

Will report back the results.

[dkryder]

i hope i'm wrong but you certainly present the best write-up for a dead board i have read on this forum. jeepers, it seems the only thing working is a red LED. just kidding, of course.

[MarkHaysHarris777]

i hope i'm wrong but you certainly present the best write-up for a dead board i have read on this forum.  jeepers, it seems the only thing working is a red LED. just kidding, of course.

heh heh,  nah-- its an illusion.

[pfeerick]

i hope i'm wrong but you certainly present the best write-up for a dead board i have read on this forum.  jeepers, it seems the only thing working is a red LED. just kidding, of course.

Ah... but lighting an LED is a feat in itself you know! I mean... finding the right cable, right power supply, right led :-P

Hopefully we can get more than a LED lighting up though... as the pine64 is capable of more thank just that!

[dedseason]

Quick update: I got a new SD card (Samsung Evo Plus Class 10 32GB) and no luck. Still no HDMI out and still cannot SSH.

Moving on to trying a new power supply.

[dedseason]

Quick update: I got a new SD card (Samsung Evo Plus Class 10 32GB) and no luck. Still no HDMI out and still cannot SSH.

Moving on to trying a new power supply.

Ok so upon further investigation, it turns out that SD card is 100% corrupted. With the new SD card, I was able to ssh into it after a few tries.

I got a new PSU that's rated at 2.5A and am able to ssh into it perfectly fine. So, looks like it was a combination of SD card + PSU.

[MarkHaysHarris777]

Quick update: I got a new SD card (Samsung Evo Plus Class 10 32GB) and no luck. Still no HDMI out and still cannot SSH.

Moving on to trying a new power supply.

Ok so upon further investigation, it turns out that SD card is 100% corrupted. With the new SD card, I was able to ssh into it after a few tries.

I got a new PSU that's rated at 2.5A and am able to ssh into it perfectly fine. So, looks like it was a combination of SD card + PSU.

Glad to see that you got it working;  well done !