How to Create a TOS USB Boot Drive on a Windows PC?
Problem Description
USB Initboot (boot system) consists of programs that configure basic hardware before TOS starts. These programs are stored on a USB flash drive. Unexpected power outages, improper shutdowns, or hardware failures may cause the boot system to malfunction. If your x.86 TNAS device fails to boot normally and cannot be detected even when starting up without any hard drives installed, it is highly likely that the USB Initboot has failed.
Solution
The old method was cumbersome and had a chance of failure. We have replaced it with a simpler method based on your suggestions.
Step 1 — Install Burning Tool
Summary: Prepare the necessary software tools.
balenaEtcher: https://etcher.balena.io/
More Alternatives: https://alternativeto.net/software/rufus/
Step 2 — Prepare the USB Drive
Summary: Ensure you use the correct USB drive and verify its capacity.
Remove the internal USB Initboot drive from the TNAS, or prepare a blank USB drive. Connect the USB drive to your computer and disconnect any other USB drives. Right-click the "Start" button, open "Disk Management," and confirm the capacity of the USB drive.
Step 3 — Download the Image File
Summary: Download the corresponding image file based on your TNAS model and the TOS version you need to install.
USB Initboot Image (TOS 4 Legacy 119MB)
Applicable Models: F2-220, F2-221, F2-420, F2-421, F4-220, F4-221, F4-420, F4-421, F5-220, F5-221, F5-225, F5-420, F5-421, F5-422, F8-421, F8-422
USB Initboot Image (TOS 5 Legacy 120MB)
USB Initboot Image (TOS 5 Legacy 60MB)
Applicable Models: F2-220, F2-221, F2-420, F2-421, F4-220, F4-221, F4-420, F4-421, F5-220, F5-221, F5-225, F5-420, F5-421, F5-422, F8-421, F8-422
Note: If your USB drive capacity is less than 120 MB, choose the 60MB version of the image file.
USB Initboot Image (TOS 5 UEFI 120MB)
Applicable Models: F2-223, F2-423, F2-424, F4-223, F4-423, F4-424, F4-424 Pro, T6-423, T9-423, T12-423, U4-423, U8-423, U12-423
USB Initboot Image (TOS 6 Legacy 126MB)
Applicable Models: F2-221, F2-421, F4-221, F5-221, F5-421, F2-422, F4-422, F5-422
(For these 8 models, the BIOS version must be between MAPL0304V16 and MAPL0304V22, or MAPL0303V16 and MAPL0303V22. You can check the BIOS version in TOS Control Panel > General Settings > System > Update > BIOS/InitBoot. You can also collect a system report under Technical Support > Feedback, download it, extract it, find device.txt, and open it to check the BIOS version.)
USB Initboot Image (TOS 6 UEFI 120MB)
Applicable Models: F2-223, F2-423, F2-424, F4-223, F4-423, F4-424, F4-424 Pro, T6-423, T9-423, T12-423, U4-423, U8-423, U12-423, F4-424 Max, F6-424, F6-424 Pro, F6-424 Max, F8 SSD, F8 SSD Plus, U8-500 Plus, T9-500 Pro, T12-500 Pro, U12-500 Plus
USB Initboot Image (TOS 6 UEFI 150MB)
Applicable Models: F4 SSD, F8 SSD, F8 SSD Plus, F2-425, F4-425, F2-425 Plus, F4-425 Plus
USB Initboot Image (TOS 7 Legacy 230MB)
Applicable Models: F2-221, F2-421, F4-221, F5-221, F5-421, F2-422, F4-422, F5-422
(For these 8 models, the BIOS version must be between MAPL0304V16 and MAPL0304V22, or MAPL0303V16 and MAPL0303V22. You can check the BIOS version in TOS Control Panel > General Settings > System > Update > BIOS/InitBoot. You can also collect a system report under Technical Support > Feedback, download it, extract it, find device.txt, and open it to check the BIOS version.)
USB Initboot Image (TOS 7 UEFI 230MB)
Models that do not require adjustment:
F2-425, F4-425, F4 SSD, U4-500
F6-424, F4-424 Max, F6-424 Max
U12-500 Plus, U8-500 Plus, T12-500 Pro, T9-500 Pro
USB Initboot Image (TOS 7 UEFI 230MB)
Models that require adjustment:
F8 SSD, F8 SSD Plus
First update the system to 6.0.794 (updating the system also updates the firmware). If you installed 6.0.794 directly via an installation package, please update it once more manually. Alternatively, refer to this thread to update the firmware:
https://forum.terra-master.com/cn/viewtopic.php?t=5051
F2-223, F2-423, F4-223, F4-423, T6-423, T9-423, T12-423, U4-423, U8-423, U12-423
If your system is currently installed on or is planned to be installed on an M.2 NVMe SSD, please adjust the BIOS boot order according to the guide before updating:
https://forum.terra-master.com/cn/viewtopic.php?t=5211
F2-424, F4-424, F4-424 Pro
Please first ensure that the NAS BIOS version and settings meet the TOS7 requirements:
https://forum.terra-master.com/cn/viewtopic.php?t=5412
F4-425 Plus, F2-425 Plus
Please first ensure that the NAS BIOS version and settings meet the TOS7 requirements:
https://forum.terra-master.com/cn/viewtopic.php?t=5410
T9-450, T12-450, U8-450
Before installing TOS7, the system disk must be migrated from an NVMe M.2 SSD to an HDD; otherwise, after installing TOS7 the system will return to the installation page. If the device fails to boot, remove the USB boot drive and power on again.
Step 4 — Create the Boot Drive
Summary: Use the tool to write the image to the USB drive.
Run the burning tool, select the target image and the target USB drive, and start the creation process.
Step 5 — Test the Boot Drive
Summary: Test whether the newly created boot drive works.
Reconnect the USB drive to the TNAS, ensuring it is the only USB drive connected. Then, start the TNAS without installing any HDDs/SATA SSDs/M.2 SSDs and observe whether the boot system starts successfully.
If it fails, try another USB drive or re-erase the current one.
If the newly created USB Initboot does not work on the TNAS, try using a disk tool to erase the USB drive and try again, or use a different USB drive and retry.