For many computer users, installing a new operating system can be a daunting task. While downloading an ISO file of Windows 7 is easy, creating a USB installation disk can be a more complicated process. However, you don’t need to worry about installing extra software to create a bootable USB drive. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to make a USB installation disk for Windows 7 without extra software.

Step 1: Format USB drive

Formatting your USB drive is the first step to create a bootable drive. Attach the USB drive to your computer and click the Start button. In the search box, type ‘my computer’ and click on the My Computer icon that appears. Right-click your USB drive and select the ‘Format’ option from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Copy the Windows 7 files

After the formatting is complete, open the Windows 7 ISO file you previously downloaded. Select all the files and copy them to your USB drive. Depending on the size of the ISO file, this may take a few minutes.

Step 3: Make the USB drive bootable

To make your USB drive bootable, you need to open the command prompt by pressing the Win+R keyboard shortcut. Type ‘cmd’ in the Run window and click ‘OK’.

Once the command prompt opens, type ‘diskpart’ and hit ‘Enter’.

Next, type ‘list disk’ and hit ‘Enter’. This command will show all the storage devices connected to your computer, including your USB drive. Note the disk number of your USB drive.

Type ‘select disk #’ (replace # with the disk number of your USB drive) and hit ‘Enter’.

Type ‘clean’ and hit ‘Enter’. This command removes any previous files or partitions from your USB drive.

Type ‘create partition primary’ and hit ‘Enter’. This command creates a new primary partition on the USB drive.

Type ‘select partition 1’ and hit ‘Enter’.

Type ‘active’ and hit ‘Enter’. This command marks the partition as active.

Type ‘format fs=ntfs quick’ and hit ‘Enter’. This command formats the partition as NTFS, a common file system used by Windows.

Type ‘exit’ and hit ‘Enter’ to close the command prompt.

Step 4: Copy the boot files

The boot files for Windows 7 are essential for installing the operating system. To copy them to your USB drive, create a new folder on the USB drive named ‘boot’. Open the Windows 7 ISO file again and navigate to the ‘boot’ folder. Copy these files to your newly created ‘boot’ folder on the USB drive.

Step 5: Install Windows 7

Now that your USB installation disk is ready, you can boot your computer from it and install Windows 7. Insert the USB drive into your computer and restart it. Press the F12 key (or another key depending on your computer manufacturer) to enter the boot menu. Select your USB drive from the list of bootable devices and press ‘Enter’.

The Windows 7 installation process should start. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Once Windows 7 is installed, remove the USB drive and restart your computer.