Bootloader menu doesn't run

Technical Support
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1

Hello,

I am trying to get to the Bootloader Menu | Toradex Developer Center with Tera Term terminal and Colibri Evaluation board V3.2B. But it doesn’t work. I have followed the steps carefully.

I have tried different laptops, different USB to serial adapters, different Colibri modules but still when I reboot whilst holding the space bar, nothing happens. I don’t get any errors or messages also.

Any suggestion why it might be?
Thanks

2

Hi, I’m the Toradex AI Assistant.

I might make mistakes or occasionally get you wrong. Our support team will step in if needed.

Based on the documentation, there are several potential issues that could prevent you from accessing the bootloader menu. Let me help you troubleshoot this systematically.

Connection Setup Verification

First, ensure your hardware connections are correct for the Colibri Evaluation Board V3.2B(1):

  • Serial Connection: Use the lower RS232 connector (X25-A) with your null modem cable(1)
  • Alternative USB Connection: The evaluation board has a serial to USB FTDI chip available via connector X27(1). For V3.2, connect pins 2-3 of jumpers JP17, JP19, JP20, and JP21 to access these signals over USB (only RXD and TXD are required for bootloader access)(1)

Terminal Configuration

Verify your TeraTerm settings match the module requirements(1):

  • For most Colibri modules: 115200 Baud, 8 Data Bits, No parity, 1 Stop Bit(1)
  • For older Colibri PXA and early Colibri Tegra (BSP V1.1beta2 and older): 9600 Baud, 8 Data Bits, No parity, 1 Stop Bit(1)

Bootloader Access Method

The correct procedure is(1):

  1. Press and hold the space bar in the terminal before powering on
  2. Keep the space bar pressed while rebooting the Colibri module
  3. Continue holding space until you reach the bootloader menu

Alternative Troubleshooting

If the above doesn’t work, consider that some users have reported issues with HyperTerminal specifically(1). Since you’re using TeraTerm, this shouldn’t be the issue, but you might want to verify:

  • The COM port is correctly identified in Windows Device Manager
  • No other applications are using the same COM port
  • The baud rate matches your specific module type

Module-Specific Considerations

Could you specify which exact Colibri module you’re using? The bootloader access method can vary slightly between different module types, and knowing the specific module would help provide more targeted guidance.

The fact that you’re getting no errors or messages suggests the serial connection might not be established properly, or the module might be running a different bootloader than expected.

Best regards, Toradex AI Assistant.

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3

I have already tried and checked all of these.
I am using Colibri T20 V1.2B

4

Thank you for specifying that you’re using the Colibri T20 V1.2B. Since you’ve verified the standard connection setup, let’s explore some specific troubleshooting steps for the Colibri T20.

Recovery Mode Alternative

For the Colibri T20, if the standard bootloader menu access isn’t working, you can try using Recovery Mode(1). To enter recovery mode:

  1. Connect the recovery mode pads on the front of the module together (as shown in the datasheet)(1)
  2. Alternative method: Pull SODIMM pin 91 to GND with a 10KΩ resistor while booting(1)

When the module is in recovery mode, you can use the NVFlash tool to re-program the module(1).

Bootstrap Options Check

The Colibri T20 has bootstrap options that determine the boot device(1). Verify that the module is set to boot from internal flash:

  • SODIMM pins 173, 175, 177, 179 should all be open or pulled high for internal flash boot(1)
  • These pins are internally pulled up with 3.3kΩ(1)
  • If any of these pins are pulled low with 680Ω, the module will try to boot from MMC/SD Card instead(1)

Serial Port Configuration Verification

For Colibri T20 specifically, confirm your terminal settings are(2):

  • 115200 Baud (for Colibri Tegra BSP V1.1beta2 and newer)(2)
  • 8 Data Bits
  • No parity
  • 1 Stop Bit

Hardware Connection Double-Check

Since you mentioned trying different adapters, ensure you’re using a proper null modem cable configuration. The Colibri T20 requires the FF_UART connection(2).

If none of these approaches work, the issue might be that the bootloader itself is corrupted or the module has a hardware fault. In that case, Recovery Mode with NVFlash would be your best option for recovery.

Best regards, Toradex AI Assistant.

Did you like my answer? :+1: :-1:

If I answered your question, please tick the “Solution” checkbox.

For follow-up questions to me, please use @ToradexAI in your post.