New Pi 2, new microSD,fresh Ras.....d will not boot (solved)

[pwalden]

I have some experience with Pis, but I am stumped.

I have a new Pi 2, a new 8GB SanDisk Ultra microSDHC and a new 2.2A switching power supply.

I downloaded the latest Raspbian image and formatted the card with:

Code: Select all

dd bs=1M if=2015-05-05-raspbian-wheezy.img of=/dev/sdc

I can mount these card partitions on my desktop and read the files,

It will not boot. I just get a blinking green LED. A single blink about one every second. No multiple flashes.
I read the troubleshooting sticky that said

If it blinks just once, it could be that you have a Raspberry Pi from Micron. If the processor has a logo showing an M with an orbit around it, then using the latest software should solve your problem. Also make sure you are using a 4GB SD card, as a 2GB won't work in this particular case.

I do not see a Micron logo anywhere and besides I am using the latest Raspbian download. On examining the board it labels Raspberry Pi 2 Model B V1.1. I do see a "made in P.R.C" on the lower left side of the board. The box it came in was labelled Element 14.

Is there anything I can do, other than return the Pi?

[pwalden]

So after further musing on this problem. I thought it might be the microSD card. I plugged it into a SDHC adapter and then into a spare older Pi Model B . It booted up just fine.

So the aforementioned Pi 2 is going back to the distributor for a replacement, which puts me out of pocket for shipping cost. Hopefully the next one will work and not set me back further.

Pity! Of the 5 Pi's I have received, this is the first dud. The others were also from China (I just checked), and they have been working just fine.

[DougieLawson]

When you get it running on the B try running sudo rpi-update to get 4.0.8+ #805 and 4.0.8-v7+ #805 kernels.

If that doesn't boot then you may have a faulty RPi2B.

You'll need to check the power supply and USB-A to microUSB cable aren't killing it.

If you can prove the RPi is faulty then RMA it with your vendor.

[pwalden]

well, I'll be...

The rpi-update worked.

The PI2 is booting.

Is there something wrong with the official Downloads version? One would need an older Pi to update the official Raspbian to a version that boots.

[DougieLawson]

There is nothing wrong with the download it runs on ALL (A/B/B+/A+, 2B, CM) raspberries.

It's impossible to tell what went wrong.

[pwalden]

Well, after what I thought was the solution, I put the Pi2 away for a day or so.

Tried to boot it today and its back to "the binking green LED".

The microSD still boots on the older model B.

So I am awaiting the arrival of my replacement Pi2. I'll send this one back.

[pwalden]

Well this tale gets weirder as we go along.

I received my replacement Pi2 and plugged it in and ... same problem. With a tinge of panic setting in, I removed the microSD and plugged it into SD adapter and into the PiModel B that it worked in before. Blinking red LED and no boot. WTF. Plugged the card into my PC and I can mount it and see the files. Crazy.

Finally, tried the PiModelB again, but this time I accidentally used a different power supply. It booted. Tried it in the Pi2 .. did not boot. Swapped power supplies and the Pi2 boots.

So the whole while it was the power supply. It is brand new and the same model as the one that works. I bought 3 of them at the same time. They are all 2.2A switchers, recommended by MCM for use with the Pi2. It was just luck, that I accidentally picked up the one that worked. You'd think that you'd get not a peep from the Pi (no LED light) if the power supply was bad.

[rpdom]

Any activity other than a steady red LED means power problems. If it blinks, then it is a good sign that the power supply is having difficulty stabilising the voltage and is probably faulty. Occasionally going out could be a weak PSU or a bad cable.

[pwalden]

In this case it was a Pi2 with a slowly blinking green LED. The trouble shooting sticky only indicated that this was potentially a boot loader/firmware problem.

The PiModelB has a blinking red LED, which was the first clue as to it being a power supply problem.

Having 2 identical power supplies, one bad, that were randomly swapped between the 2 Pis added to the confusion. Sometimes it booted; sometimes not. Hence, my thinking it was a Pi problem.

The morale of the story is "live and learn"