Install Windows
On Any VPS
Fully Automated — Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
A tool I put together to automate installing Windows inside QEMU on any Ubuntu 24.04 LTS VPS or dedicated server. Enter your server IP, root password, and SSH port, pick a Windows version, and the installer handles everything over SSH — dependencies, ISO download, disk setup, network configuration, and RDP. Handy if you need a quick Windows environment for testing or development without spinning up a separate machine.
Windows Installer Pro
Enter your server details, select a Windows version, and click install. The tool connects via SSH and handles the rest. All Windows versions are evaluation editions — see the notice at the top of this page.
Remote OS Installer
Install a fresh operating system on any Ubuntu 24.04 server
RAM & Disk Minimums
The installation will fail if your server doesn't meet the minimum RAM for the Windows version you've chosen. Check these before you start.
How to Install Windows
on Ubuntu 24.04
What happens under the hood, and how to connect once it's done.
You need a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 LTS server — VPS or dedicated — with root access and KVM virtualisation enabled. OpenVZ nodes won't work. Most major providers (DigitalOcean, Vultr, Hetzner, Linode, OVH, Contabo) use KVM by default. Verify before starting:
Enter your server's public IP, root password, and SSH port (default: 22). Select your Windows version — Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, Windows Server 2022, or Windows Server 2025. All are evaluation editions. Make sure your server meets the RAM minimum for the version you've chosen.
The tool connects via SSH and takes over: installs QEMU and dependencies, downloads the official Microsoft evaluation ISO (10–20 minutes depending on your server's connection), configures disk mapping and the network bridge, then runs the unattended Windows setup. The full process typically finishes in under 60 minutes.
Once done, open any RDP client. On Windows: Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc).
On Mac: Microsoft Remote Desktop from the App Store. On Linux: Remmina or FreeRDP.
Connect to your server's IP on port 3389.
Tool Overview
A summary of what the installer handles automatically.
No manual clicking through Windows installers over VNC. The whole setup runs headless from start to finish via SSH.
Remote Desktop is enabled automatically. No post-install PowerShell needed. Connect straight away with any RDP client.
Tested on DigitalOcean, Vultr, Hetzner, Linode, OVH, Contabo, and bare metal. Any KVM server running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with root access should work.
ISOs are downloaded directly from Microsoft's servers during installation. Windows 10 Pro, 11 Pro, Server 2022, Server 2025 — all evaluation editions.
From a blank Ubuntu 24.04 server to an RDP-accessible Windows desktop in under 60 minutes. ISO download speed is the main variable.
Built as a personal project and shared for free. If you find it useful and want to help cover running costs, there's a donate option below.
Need a Server?
If you don't already have a Ubuntu 24.04 VPS, DigitalOcean Droplets are a straightforward option — KVM-based and compatible with this tool out of the box.
Any standard Droplet running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will work with this installer, provided it meets the RAM minimum for your chosen Windows version. New accounts signed up via the referral link below receive $200 in free credit valid for 60 days.
Supported Setups
- ✓ DigitalOcean Droplets (KVM)
- ✓ Vultr Cloud Compute (KVM)
- ✓ Hetzner Cloud & Dedicated
- ✓ Linode / Akamai Cloud (KVM)
- ✓ OVHcloud VPS & Dedicated
- ✓ Contabo VPS & Dedicated
- ✓ Bare metal (KVM-capable)
- ✓ Ubuntu 24.04 LTS only
- ✗ OpenVZ containers
- ✗ LXC containers
- ✗ ARM-based servers
- ✗ Ubuntu 22.04 or older
- ✗ Non-root / sudo-only access
- ✗ Below minimum RAM
- ✗ Less than 60 GB free disk
- ✗ Providers blocking KVM virtualisation
Common Questions
Yes — DigitalOcean Droplets use KVM, which is what this tool requires. Pick any plan with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and enough RAM for your chosen Windows version. 4 GB for Windows 10 Pro, 8 GB for Windows 11 Pro and the Server editions.
Use any RDP client. On Windows: search "Remote Desktop Connection" or run mstsc. On Mac: Microsoft Remote Desktop (App Store). On Linux: Remmina or FreeRDP. Connect to your server IP on port 3389 using the Administrator credentials set during installation.
Yes. QEMU is configured to start Windows automatically on boot. If you need to restart the server, do it from within Windows rather than forcing a reset from your provider's control panel — that could interrupt QEMU before a clean shutdown.
All versions installed by this tool are evaluation editions — fully functional but time-limited. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro evaluations run for 90 days; Windows Server 2022 and 2025 evaluations run for 180 days. If you need to continue using Windows after the evaluation period ends, you need to purchase a licence from Microsoft. This tool is intended for testing and development use.
The default on a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 server is 22. If you've changed it, or your provider uses a non-standard port, enter that instead. Check your provider's control panel if you're unsure.
Typically 30–60 minutes. The ISO download is the biggest variable — a fast server connection will pull the 5 GB ISO quickly, a slower one will add time to that step.
Keep It Free
This tool automates the installation of official Microsoft Windows evaluation software on servers that you own or have authorised access to. It does not distribute, modify, crack, or host any Microsoft software — all Windows ISOs are downloaded directly from Microsoft's own servers during the installation process.
By using this tool you agree to the following:
- Evaluation Software — All Windows versions installed by this tool are official Microsoft evaluation editions subject to Microsoft's Evaluation Software Licence Terms. Evaluation periods are time-limited: 90 days for Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro; 180 days for Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2025. Continued use beyond the evaluation period requires a valid Microsoft licence purchased separately from microsoft.com. For volume and server licensing, refer to microsoft.com/licensing.
- Your Responsibility — You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of Windows complies with Microsoft's licence terms, your VPS or hosting provider's terms of service, and the laws of your jurisdiction. Some hosting providers prohibit running Windows on Linux-based VPS infrastructure — check your provider's terms before proceeding.
- No Liability — This tool is provided free of charge, as-is, with no warranty of any kind. The creator accepts no liability for data loss, service interruption, account suspension by your hosting provider, licence violations, or any other direct or indirect damages arising from use of this tool.
- Authorised Access Only — This tool must only be used on servers you own or have explicit written authorisation to administer. Unauthorised access to computer systems is illegal in most jurisdictions.
- No Affiliation — This tool is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Microsoft Corporation in any way. Windows, Windows Server, and related names are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
If you are unsure whether your intended use complies with Microsoft's licence terms, refer to microsoft.com/licensing or seek independent legal advice.