NanoPi Neo doesn't work with a particular SD card

[jebivetar]

I have 2 512mb NanoPi Neos that won't boot from one particular SD card.

The card in question is a very very old PQI Class 6 8gb. The card tests fine using F3 with 0 errors, and works just fine in everything else, including multiple laptops in both Linux and Windows, an Android phone and in a RaspberryPi. Both NanoPis works fine with a 8gb SanDisk Industrial and a couple other Class 10 cards.

I only have SSH available to me to see what's going on. The NanoPi doesn't show up on the network so I'm in the dark. I have tried the official Ubuntu 16.04 image, Armbian Jessie, and openSUSE Tumbleweed with the same results.

Precisely, after plugging in the power, the red LED turns on, the ethernet LEDs turn on, and nothing else happens.

Anyone have any ideas? Or further troubleshooting avenues? I don't really have any other uses for this card so I'd like to use it for PiHole if possible since the other cards could be put to better use.

[Szymon_Zy]

I have two brand new Class 4 (GoodRAM) 8GB cards. Let you know tomorrow, will unpack one and test.

[davef]

In some of the older NanoPi one had to place a rootwait/rootdelay arg in the boot environment variables, when booting from an SD card. I'd have to try and find the details.

https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/67199/whats-the-point-of-rootwait-rootdelay

Do your boot messages provide any clues why it is not proceeding?

[jebivetar]

In some of the older NanoPi one had to place a bootwait arg in the boot environment variables. I'd have to try and find the details.

Do your boot messages provide any clues why it is not proceeding?

These units were bought in December.

I don't have access to any sort of feedback, as of yet - just ssh, which is useless.

[auto3000]

You really need an UART to USB adapter to get logs at boot.

To give an example, the model next is working fine (1€) at https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shi ... 0.0.e685tj

[jebivetar]

You really need an UART to USB adapter to get logs at boot.

To give an example, the model next is working fine (1€) at https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shi ... 0.0.e685tj

I've caught onto that. I ordered one but it'll be a while until it gets to me since customs here has an aneurysm every winter and takes several months to recover.

The local maker/electronics/pi stores sell the one you linked for $20.

[jebivetar]

Addendum: the ethernet LEDs start blinking pretty much instantly after power is connected with a working card, but with this card it seems the device has already decided it's not going to boot since the LEDs just turn on and don't do anything else.