# Download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft # Create empty QCOW2 qemu-img create -f qcow2 win10.qcow2 64G
After a major update (e.g., 22H2 to 24H2), the QCoW2 file grows. Windows marks old data as deleted, but QEMU doesn't shrink the file automatically. windows 10 qcow2 file upd download
– Copy .msu update files to /mnt/windows/Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Download/ – but this rarely works cleanly. Easier to just boot and run Windows Update. # Download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft #
QCOW2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write) is a virtual disk image format used by the QEMU emulator. It's a popular format for creating and managing virtual machines (VMs) on Linux and other platforms. QCOW2 files are known for their flexibility, allowing users to create, modify, and distribute virtual disk images with ease. Easier to just boot and run Windows Update
This method guarantees a pristine, updatable Windows 10 installation.