While you could use a "raw" image, QCOW2 offers features that make managing a legacy VM much easier: Thin Provisioning:

Here’s why qcow2 is a good choice for running Windows XP in a virtual machine:

If you're coming from VirtualBox (VDI) or VMware (VMDK), you might wonder why QEMU’s native format is preferred.

Hosting Windows XP on Linux KVM, Proxmox, or macOS/Android using QEMU-based emulators like UTM. Legacy Hardware Control: Interfacing with old industrial or peripheral hardware. Proxmox Support Forum How to Create/Obtain a Windows XP QCOW2 File

Windows Xpqcow2 -

While you could use a "raw" image, QCOW2 offers features that make managing a legacy VM much easier: Thin Provisioning:

Here’s why qcow2 is a good choice for running Windows XP in a virtual machine:

If you're coming from VirtualBox (VDI) or VMware (VMDK), you might wonder why QEMU’s native format is preferred.

Hosting Windows XP on Linux KVM, Proxmox, or macOS/Android using QEMU-based emulators like UTM. Legacy Hardware Control: Interfacing with old industrial or peripheral hardware. Proxmox Support Forum How to Create/Obtain a Windows XP QCOW2 File