Before you can create your Windows 10 VM, you need to set up your Linux host. The following instructions are generally applicable to most modern Linux distributions.
Deleted files inside Windows do not automatically shrink the QCOW2 file on your Linux host.
Running Windows 10 within a Linux-hosted KVM setup via QCOW2 bridges the gap between open-source flexibility and corporate compatibility. 1. Safer Software Development and Testing windows 10qcow2
Once the VirtIO drivers are installed, your VM will communicate directly with the host's hardware via a paravirtualized path, typically resulting in a in disk and network I/O performance compared to emulated hardware.
After Windows installation completes, the VM will reboot. Ensure you remove the installation ISO from the boot order to prevent restarting the setup. Before you can create your Windows 10 VM,
2026-04-18 Subject: Performance, compatibility, and best practices for Windows 10 on QCOW2 images.
An unoptimized Windows 10 virtual machine can feel sluggish due to storage bottlenecks and CPU overhead. Implement the following tweaks to unlock near-native performance. 1. Optimize Disk Cache Modes Running Windows 10 within a Linux-hosted KVM setup
The VirtIO network driver for high-speed paravirtualized ethernet.
As Windows creates and deletes temporary files, the QCOW2 file expands on the host disk but never automatically shrinks. To compress it back down: Inside Windows, run a disk cleanup to wipe update caches. Shut down the VM completely.