No boot partition on new Odroid HC4 image

Troubleshooting
1

Hi,

I was trying to install the new image for Odroid HC4 with the new 5.x kernel version, but when flashing it with etcher, I not getting the boot partition. I have done that before and I usually get a partition I can see on windows, with the dietpi.txt with the config and so. But not this time.

Also the image size is 730mb and the one before was about 1GB.

I also inserted the SD card, and when booting, it says the boot partition can’t be found…

Am I doing something wrong??

Thank you as always!

PD.: Updating over the old image, works.

2

the new image did not contain a dedicated boot partition anymore. With the new image we switched to a single ext4 partition.

The boot issue might be similar to this https://github.com/MichaIng/DietPi/issues/5336

3

And how does it boot?

Is there some instructions?

Edit: OK I will take a look to the link

4

did you had a look to the link I posted above?

5

Would be nice if some documentatio were added to the download page of the image, like in armbian page Odroid HC4 – Armbian.

Important: To be able to boot clean Armbian mainline based u-boot / kernel experiences, you need to remove incompatible Petitboot loader that is shipped with the board.

Try one of the following methods:
Bootloader Bypass Method

This is now the preferred method. It is easier, and be performed without a display via SSH

Install an SD Card with a fresh Armbian image
Flip device upside down
With a tool, press and hold down the black button.
Continue holding button and plug in power to device
Login to console or SSH and perform follow normal setup procedures
Verify system can access SPI FLASH device and Erase
Reboot

odroidhc4:~:# ls -ltr /dev/mtd*
crw------- 1 root root 90, 0 Nov 6 21:38 /dev/mtd0
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 31, 0 Nov 6 21:38 /dev/mtdblock0
crw------- 1 root root 90, 1 Nov 6 21:38 /dev/mtd0ro
odroidhc4:~:# flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 0
Erasing 4 Kibyte @ fff000 – 100 % complete
odroidhc4:~:#

>
> Petitboot Console Method
>
> Attach the device to a display and keyboard.  Power on.  Petitboot will load
>
> From the Petitboot menu, go for “Exit to shell” and these commands to remove the Petitboot:
>
> ```text
# flash_eraseall /dev/mtd0
# flash_eraseall /dev/mtd1
# flash_eraseall /dev/mtd2
# flash_eraseall /dev/mtd3

This will make your SPI flash memory empty and would start from SD on next boot.

In case you want to put Petitboot back to the board, user those instructions.

6

You are right, that makes sense to add. I opened an issue and will add this info this evening: https://github.com/MichaIng/DietPi-Website/issues/206

7

Hi, I finally switch yesterday to the new Odroid HC4 image with the new 5.x kernel, and I made those command recommended by armbian, but I have a problem with reboot, I can’t reboot.

Is there anything I can do?

I search a lot on armbian threads but all say the same, using a feature in their configurator
https://forum.armbian.com/topic/19340-odroid-c4-will-not-reboot-after-any-sort-of-kernel-update-have-tried-running-nand-sata-install/

8

we will have a look. Maybe u-boot would need to be updated.

1 Like
9

I had to flash first Armbian, and then in their config script do this:

armbian-config —> System → Install → Install/Update the bootloader on SPI/Flash

Original thread: https://forum.armbian.com/topic/19340-odroid-c4-will-not-reboot-after-any-sort-of-kernel-update-have-tried-running-nand-sata-install/#comment-137689

10

Btw, our recent Odroid C4 image supports petitboot, so no need to erase or reflash the SPI, and it can boot directly from USB that way.