Windows 8 Qcow2 ✦ Free Forever

This guide covers why QCOW2 is the preferred format for legacy Windows virtualization and provides a step-by-step workflow for creating and optimizing your own image. Why Choose QCOW2 for Windows 8?

Or using qemu-img :

: QCOW2 supports built-in zlib compression and AES encryption at the disk level. windows 8 qcow2