Add this to your VM XML (virt-manager) or QEMU command line:
-cpu host,+svm -machine pc-i440fx-2.1 -vga cirrus
Or use -vga std (better performance, but needs XP driver).
For convenience, many users look for pre-installed QCOW2 images to avoid the lengthy installation process.
⚠️ Security Warning: Windows XP is full of unpatched vulnerabilities. Never connect an XP VM to the open internet for browsing or sensitive tasks. Downloading pre-built images from random file-hosting sites carries the risk of malware.
If you choose this route, look for reputable archives (often found on Internet Archive or retro-computing forums). These usually come in "Ready-to-Run" states but often include bloat or unwanted software.
Where to look:
Once inside XP, do this immediately:
This report describes creating, configuring, and running a Windows XP virtual machine using the QCOW2 disk image format with QEMU/KVM. It covers image creation, installation steps, performance and compatibility considerations, security and maintenance guidance, and backup/convert options.
qemu-system-x86_64
-drive file=xp-sp3.qcow2,format=qcow2
-m 1024
-cpu host
-enable-kvm
-netdev user,id=net0
-device e1000,netdev=net0
-vga qxl
⚠️ Legal note: You need a valid Windows XP license. Pre-activated images are for testing/archival with your own license key.