If you truly do not want to create your own, a few open-source projects provide automated build scripts or pre-built images for open-source Windows alternatives (like ReactOS). For actual Windows, the only reputable third-party source is OSBoxes (Linux-focused VM distribution) – but even they typically provide .vdi for VirtualBox.
Upload your windows10.qcow2 file to the Proxmox storage directory via SSH. Import the disk into your VM using the CLI: qm importdisk 105 windows10.qcow2 local-lvm Use code with caution.
If the VM fails to boot with a "No bootable device" error, you need VirtIO drivers (see Part 5). Windows 10.qcow2 Download
Once the VM starts, follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10.
Disclaimer: Always ensure you are downloading images from trusted sources to avoid malware. You must possess a valid Windows 10 license to activate and legally use these images. 1. OSBoxes If you truly do not want to create
While it's rare to find an official, ready-to-use Windows 10 QCOW2 image directly from Microsoft, there are two legitimate paths to get one: creating it yourself from a trusted source, or downloading a pre-built image from a reputable third-party provider. The table below compares these two primary options.
The qcow2 format is a virtual disk image format used by QEMU, an open-source emulator and virtualizer. It's commonly used in virtual machines (VMs) for various operating systems, including Linux and Windows. Import the disk into your VM using the
When the installation wizard asks "Where do you want to install Windows?", the list will be empty. Click and browse the VirtIO CD-ROM drive.
Microsoft provides free virtual machines for developers to test websites and applications across different browser versions.
When Windows installer asks for a disk, click "Load driver" → Browse to the VirtIO ISO → Select amd64 → w10 → Install.
Use OSBoxes for testing or Microsoft’s Eval Center + manual conversion for production.