Unlike ISO installations, deploying from a pre-configured windows 8.1 qcow2 image saves you from the tedious 30-minute setup process. However, finding a proper guide that bridges the gap between a raw ISO and a functional QCOW2 image is rare.
wget https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/stable-virtio/virtio-win.iso Use virt-install for a headless or scriptable installation:
qemu-img convert -f vmdk -O qcow2 Windows8.1.vmdk windows81.qcow2 From a RAW image: windows 81 qcow2 install
qemu-img convert -f vdi -O qcow2 Windows8.1.vdi windows81.qcow2 From a VMDK (VMware):
qemu-img info windows81.qcow2 To increase the disk size to 80GB: QCOW2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write version 2) is the native
If you are a virtualization enthusiast, a DevOps engineer, or a Linux user needing a Windows 8.1 virtual machine (VM), you have likely encountered the need for a QCOW2 image. QCOW2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write version 2) is the native disk format for QEMU and is widely used by KVM, Proxmox VE, and oVirt.
qemu-img convert -f raw -O qcow2 Windows8.1.raw windows81.qcow2 Check the converted image: covering native installation
This article provides a step-by-step walkthrough to install Windows 8.1 as a QCOW2 image, covering native installation, ISO-to-QCOW2 conversion, VirtIO drivers, and performance tuning. Before diving into the commands, let's understand the "why." Many users download pre-made images, but creating your own ensures security (no backdoors) and customization.