He needed Windows 7.
Raw disk images never shrink. QCOW2 can shrink, but only if you tell it. Inside Windows 7: windows 7qcow2 best
Without VirtIO, your Windows 7 VM will use slow "IDE" emulation. For the best speed: Use for the hard disk controller. Use VirtIO-Net for gigabit-speed networking. He needed Windows 7
: Frequently cited as a top choice for ready-made images. These are built for cloud environments (like OpenStack) and typically include VirtIO drivers pre-installed, which are essential for high performance in KVM/QEMU. windows 7qcow2 best