Re: How to Flash a New USB Initboot for TOS on Windows PC?
Posted: 22 Jan 2026, 18:59
Bug Reports, Operation Guides, and Experience Sharing
https://forum.terra-master.com/en/
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root@TNAS-425-Plus:/volume1/Test# dd if=USB_Initboot_1.3.img of=/dev/usb1 bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync
37+1 records in
37+1 records out
157286400 bytes (157 MB, 150 MiB) copied, 37.54 s, 4.2 MB/s
root@TNAS-425-Plus:/volume1/Test# sync
root@TNAS-425-Plus:/volume1/Test# fdisk -l /dev/usb1
GPT PMBR size mismatch (7864319 != 515071) will be corrected by write.
The primary GPT table is corrupt, but the backup appears OK, so that will be used.
Disk /dev/usb1: 251.5 MiB, 263716864 bytes, 515072 sectors
Disk model: TerraMaster
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 8E3E491A-4BB9-429B-85A7-22509A007F64
root@TNAS-425-Plus:/volume1/Test# Unfortunately, there is no USB flash drive loader on TerraMaster F4-425 Plus. The flash drive is soldered on the board and I can't insert it into my PC in order to write the loader as you recommend.TMeric wrote: ↑25 Jan 2026, 22:20 You can try using the tools in the following link to select the appropriate file and directly write it to the USB drive.
https://etcher.balena.io/#download-etcher
It is not soldered; it's using internal USB header pins like a desktop motherboard would have.



If you were following the proper upgrade path, there should be no need to re-write the flash drive as far as I can tell. (None of my devices required it.) Did you try doing something with the flash drive because of your other issues? Please try and keep the details in the one thread to make it easier for others to follow and assist. It would not be wise to try and directly instal TOS7 - rather revert to TOS6 or even TOS5 and proceed from there.
Use the TOS 6 UEFI image & then follow the upgrade procedure from the latest TOS 6 build towards the current TOS 7 beta.
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What it Does in Your F4-425The Hardware:
It is a tiny, proprietary daughter board attached to an internal USB header via a standoff and secured with a single screw.
The Function:
It contains a small amount of flash memory (historically 1GB–4GB, but updated to a compact ~250MB Flashdisc in the 425-series). Its sole purpose is to store the lightweight initboot / bootloader for TerraMaster's TOS operating system.