Before running the installer, make sure your VPS meets all of the following requirements.

VPS Requirements

Software Requirements

The installer uses standard Linux utilities. Most distros have everything needed. The script requires:

• wget or curl — for downloading
• bash — to run the installer script
• sed — for text processing

These are pre-installed on virtually all Linux VPS images.

What You Need Before Starting

• A valid CloudWave license key (purchased at installer.cloudwavebd.com)
• SH access to your VPS as root
• Any important data backed up (the installer overwrites your entire disk)
• (Optional but recommended) VNC access via your provider's control panel, in case RDP needs first-time setup

Install credits are purchased at installer.cloudwavebd.com. After checkout, your license key is delivered to your email instantly.

Available Packs

How to Use Your License Key

1. After purchase, check your email for the license key (format: CWBD-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX)
2. SSH into your VPS as root
3. Run the install command
4. When prompted, paste your license key
5. The installer validates the key against our API and deducts one credit

The installer supports 7 Windows versions. During installation, you'll be shown a numbered menu — enter the number for your chosen version.

Which Version Should I Choose?

• Remote desktop / general use: Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Web server / hosting panel: Windows Server 2022 or 2019
• Lowest RAM usage: Windows 10 or Windows Server 2019
• Latest features: Windows Server 2025 or Windows 11
• Old software that needs Windows 7: Option 43
• ARM VPS (Ampere, etc.): Windows 11 ARM (option 47)

This guide covers the general installation process that applies to all KVM VPS providers. For provider-specific instructions, see their dedicated guides in the sidebar.

Step 1 — SSH Into Your VPS

Connect to your Linux VPS as root. On Windows use PuTTY or Windows Terminal. On macOS/Linux use your Terminal:

ssh root@YOUR_VPS_IP

Step 2 — Run the Install Command

Copy and paste the following command exactly as shown:

wget -qO- https://installer.cloudwavebd.com/install.sh | sed 's/\r//' > /dev/shm/install.sh && bash /dev/shm/install.sh

Step 3 — Enter Your License Key

The installer will display the CloudWave banner and prompt for your license key:

============================================
   Windows Installer for KVM VPS
   CloudWave Hosting | www.cloudwavebd.com
============================================

Enter your License Key
  Purchase at: https://installer.cloudwavebd.com/

License Key: CWBD-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

[OK] License valid — 9 install(s) remaining

Paste your license key and press Enter. The installer validates it against our API. If the key is invalid or you have no credits, an error will show and no credits will be deducted.

Step 4 — Choose a Windows Version

After license validation, you'll see the OS selection menu:

Select Windows version to install:

  41) Windows 11               42) Windows 10
  43) Windows 7                44) Windows Server 2025
  45) Windows Server 2022      46) Windows Server 2019
  47) Windows 11 ARM

Enter choice [41-47]: 45

Enter the number for your desired Windows version and press Enter.

Step 5 — Confirm Installation

The installer shows a final warning before proceeding:

[WARNING] This will install Windows Server 2022 on this server.
[WARNING] ALL existing data will be LOST.
[WARNING] 1 install credit will be used.

Type YES to confirm and start installation: YES

Type YES (all capitals) and press Enter. Any other input will abort with no credits used.

Step 6 — Wait for Installation to Complete

The installer will download the Windows image and begin writing it to your disk. This takes 10–30 minutes depending on your VPS network speed.

[OK] Authorized! 8 install(s) remaining on your license.

[INFO] Preparing installation, please wait...
[INFO] Installing Windows Server 2022... This may take 10-30 minutes.
[INFO] Do NOT close this terminal or SSH session.

[OK] Downloading Windows Server 2022...
16106127872 bytes copied, 248s, 64.8 MB/s
[OK] Installation complete! Rebooting...

Step 7 — Connect After Reboot

After the installer completes, your VPS will reboot into Windows. Wait 2–3 minutes for it to fully boot, then connect via RDP.

If RDP doesn't connect immediately, use VNC first — see the First Login guide for details.

Hetzner Cloud is one of the most popular and reliable KVM VPS providers in Europe. It uses KVM virtualization natively, making it fully compatible with the CloudWave Windows Installer. In most cases on Hetzner, RDP works immediately after installation without needing VNC.

Step 1 — Create or Prepare Your Hetzner VPS

Log in to your Hetzner Cloud Console. If you already have a VPS running Linux, skip to Step 2. To create a new server:

1. 1

   Click "Add Server"

   In your Hetzner Cloud project, click the + Add Server button in the top right.

2. 2

   Select a location and OS

   Choose any datacenter location. For the OS, select Ubuntu 22.04 (recommended). The Windows installer works on any Linux OS.

3. 3

   Choose a server type

   Select a Shared vCPU (Intel or AMD) or Dedicated server. For ARM, select an Ampere instance and use Windows 11 ARM. Minimum recommended: CX22 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk).

4. 4

   Set up SSH key or root password

   Add your SSH public key or set a root password. You'll use this to connect via SSH in the next step.

5. 5

   Create the server

   Click Create & Buy Now. Note the public IPv4 address shown after creation.

Step 2 — SSH Into Your Hetzner Server

ssh root@YOUR_HETZNER_IP

Replace YOUR_HETZNER_IP with the public IPv4 address from your Hetzner console. Accept the SSH host fingerprint if prompted.

Step 3 — Run the Installer

Once logged in as root, run the installer command:

wget -qO- https://installer.cloudwavebd.com/install.sh | sed 's/\r//' > /dev/shm/install.sh && bash /dev/shm/install.sh

Follow the prompts:

1. Enter your license key when asked
2. Select a Windows version from the menu (e.g. 45 for Windows Server 2022)
3. Type YES to confirm

Step 4 — Wait for Completion

The installation will take approximately 10–25 minutes on Hetzner, which has fast network speeds. You'll see download progress in your terminal. When done, the VPS will reboot automatically.

Step 5 — Connect via RDP

Wait 2–3 minutes after the installer finishes, then open your Remote Desktop Connection client:

• Computer: YOUR_HETZNER_IP:3389
• Username: Administrator
• Password: Teddysun.com

Using Hetzner's VNC Console (if needed)

If RDP still doesn't connect after several minutes, use Hetzner's built-in console:

1. Go to Hetzner Cloud Console → your server
2. Click the Console tab (or the monitor icon)
3. Log in with username Administrator and password Teddysun.com
4. Windows will run its network auto-configuration automatically
5. Once the desktop appears and network is configured, RDP will work

Contabo offers excellent value KVM VPS servers with large disk and RAM allocations. The CloudWave Windows Installer works fully on Contabo. However, Contabo's network configuration requires a first-time login via VNC before RDP becomes available — this is expected and easy to do.

Step 1 — Prepare Your Contabo VPS

Log in to the Contabo Customer Control Panel. Make sure your VPS is running any Linux OS. If you just ordered it, wait for the welcome email with your credentials.

Step 2 — Find Your VNC Access Details

You'll need VNC access ready before starting installation so you can use it immediately after. Here's how to get it:

1. 1

   Log into Contabo control panel

   Go to my.contabo.com and log in with your account credentials.

2. 2

   Navigate to your VPS

   Click Your Services → VPS Control → find your server and click Manage.

3. 3

   Open the VNC console

   In the server management page, look for the VNC section. Click Open VNC Console or note the VNC hostname, port, and password. You'll use this after Windows installs.

Step 3 — SSH Into Your Contabo VPS

ssh root@YOUR_CONTABO_IP

Your Contabo IP and root password are in the welcome email you received when you ordered the VPS. If you set a custom password, use that instead.

Step 4 — Run the Installer

wget -qO- https://installer.cloudwavebd.com/install.sh | sed 's/\r//' > /dev/shm/install.sh && bash /dev/shm/install.sh

Follow the interactive prompts:

1. Enter your CloudWave license key
2. Choose your Windows version (e.g. type 45 for Windows Server 2022)
3. Type YES to confirm — this deducts 1 credit and begins the process

Step 5 — Wait for Installation

Contabo has generous bandwidth and good network speeds. Installation typically takes 15–30 minutes. Watch the progress in your SSH session. When it says "Installation complete! Rebooting...", your VPS will restart into Windows.

Step 6 — First Login via VNC (Required on Contabo)

After the VPS reboots, do not try RDP yet. On Contabo, you must complete the first login via VNC so the network auto-configuration can run.

1. 1

   Open the Contabo VNC Console

   In your Contabo control panel, go to your VPS management page and click Open VNC Console. A browser-based VNC viewer will open.

2. 2

   Wait for Windows to load

   You should see the Windows login screen in the VNC viewer. If you see a blank screen, wait 1–2 minutes and refresh. Windows may still be booting.

3. 3

   Log in with default credentials

   Click on the screen, press Ctrl+Alt+Del (there's usually a button in the VNC toolbar for this), then enter:

   • Username: Administrator
   • Password: Teddysun.com
4. 4

   Wait for network auto-configuration

   After logging in, a script will run automatically in the background to configure the network adapter for Contabo's environment. This takes 30–90 seconds. You may see a command prompt window briefly appear and close.

5. 5

   RDP is now ready

   Once the auto-configuration completes, RDP on port 3389 will be active and reachable. You can now close the VNC session and connect via RDP from your computer.

Step 7 — Connect via RDP

Open Remote Desktop Connection on your local computer:

• Computer: YOUR_CONTABO_IP:3389
• Username: Administrator
• Password: Teddysun.com

Troubleshooting Contabo-Specific Issues

VNC shows a blank screen

Wait 2–3 minutes after the reboot and try clicking on the VNC viewer. Press any key. If still blank after 5 minutes, do a hard reset of the VPS from the Contabo control panel (Action → Reset/Restart).

RDP still not working after VNC login

Open the VNC console, log into Windows, and open a Command Prompt as Administrator. Run:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="RDP" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=3389

Also verify RDP is enabled via: System Properties → Remote → Allow remote connections to this computer.

DigitalOcean "Droplets" are KVM-based virtual machines fully compatible with the CloudWave Windows Installer. Like Contabo, DigitalOcean requires a first-time VNC login after installation for Windows network configuration to run. After that one-time step, RDP works normally.

Step 1 — Create a DigitalOcean Droplet

If you already have a Droplet running Linux, skip to Step 3. To create a new one:

1. 1

   Log into DigitalOcean

   Go to cloud.digitalocean.com and click Create → Droplets.

2. 2

   Choose region and OS

   Select any region. For the OS, choose Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. The Windows installer works on all Linux distros.

3. 3

   Select Droplet size

   Choose a plan with at least 2 GB RAM and 50 GB disk. The Basic $12/mo or $18/mo plans work well for Windows. For better performance, use a Regular or Premium Intel/AMD Droplet.

4. 4

   Authentication

   Add your SSH key or choose Password authentication. If using password, set a strong root password.

5. 5

   Create Droplet

   Click Create Droplet. Wait 30–60 seconds for it to provision. Note the public IP address.

Step 2 — Open Firewall Port for RDP

DigitalOcean Droplets don't have a default firewall, but if you've added a Cloud Firewall, ensure TCP port 3389 is allowed inbound. To add a firewall rule:

1. Go to Networking → Firewalls
2. Click your firewall → Inbound Rules → Add Rule
3. Type: Custom, Protocol: TCP, Port: 3389, Sources: All IPv4 / All IPv6
4. Save the rule

Step 3 — SSH Into Your Droplet

ssh root@YOUR_DROPLET_IP

Use your SSH key or the root password you set during Droplet creation.

Step 4 — Run the Installer

wget -qO- https://installer.cloudwavebd.com/install.sh | sed 's/\r//' > /dev/shm/install.sh && bash /dev/shm/install.sh

When prompted:

1. Enter your CloudWave license key
2. Select a Windows version (e.g., 46 for Windows Server 2019, 45 for Server 2022)
3. Type YES to confirm

Step 5 — Wait for Installation

DigitalOcean has fast networking. The Windows image download and write process takes approximately 15–25 minutes. Keep your SSH session open until you see "Installation complete! Rebooting..." in the output.

After the VPS reboots, your SSH connection will drop. This is normal.

Step 6 — First Login via DigitalOcean Console (VNC)

After the reboot, Windows needs its first login to complete the network auto-setup. Here's how to access it:

1. 1

   Open the Droplet Console

   In cloud.digitalocean.com, go to your Droplet's detail page. Click the Console button in the top right (or Access tab → Launch Droplet Rescue Console). A browser-based console will open.

2. 2

   Wait for the Windows login screen

   The console will show the Windows login screen. If you see a black screen, wait 1–2 minutes — Windows is still booting. You can click anywhere on the console and press a key to wake the display.

3. 3

   Send Ctrl+Alt+Del and log in

   Click the Send Ctrl+Alt+Del button in the DigitalOcean console toolbar. The login screen will appear. Enter:

   • Username: Administrator
   • Password: Teddysun.com
4. 4

   Let the network script run automatically

   After logging in, Windows will automatically detect the DigitalOcean network environment and run the network configuration script. You may see a brief black command prompt window. Wait for it to close — this takes about 30–60 seconds.

5. 5

   Verify internet connectivity (optional)

   Open the Start menu, type cmd, and run: ping 8.8.8.8. If you get replies, the network is working correctly. You can now close the console.

Step 7 — Connect via RDP

Now RDP is ready. Open Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe on Windows, Microsoft Remote Desktop on macOS):

• Computer: YOUR_DROPLET_IP:3389
• Username: Administrator
• Password: Teddysun.com

DigitalOcean-Specific Notes

IPv6 Only Droplets

If your Droplet only has an IPv6 address, make sure your local machine also has IPv6 connectivity. Most RDP clients support IPv6 — just use the full IPv6 address in brackets: [2604:a880:...]:3389.

Floating IPs / Reserved IPs

If you assign a Reserved IP (floating IP) to your Droplet, use that IP address for RDP instead of the Droplet's primary IP.

Droplet Resize

After installing Windows, you can resize your Droplet from the DigitalOcean panel to add more CPU/RAM without reinstalling. Use the Resize option with "Disk, CPU, and RAM" for a permanent resize.

After Windows installs and your VPS reboots, you need to connect to it. Depending on your VPS provider, you may be able to connect directly via RDP, or you may need to do a first login via VNC.

Which Providers Need VNC First?

How to Log In via VNC

Every VPS provider has a built-in console (VNC) accessible from their web control panel:

• Hetzner: Server page → Console tab
• Contabo: VPS Control → Manage → VNC section
• DigitalOcean: Droplet page → Access → Launch Droplet Rescue Console
• Vultr: Server page → View Console
• Linode: Linode detail → Launch LISH Console

Default Windows Login Credentials

What Happens After VNC Login

When you log in via VNC for the first time, a network configuration script runs automatically in the background. This script:

• Detects your VPS provider's network environment
• Configures the Windows network adapter with the correct IP settings
• Enables and starts the RDP service
• Configures the Windows firewall to allow RDP on port 3389

The entire process takes 30–90 seconds. After it completes, you can close the VNC console and connect via RDP.

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) runs on TCP port 3389 and is pre-enabled on all Windows images installed by CloudWave Installer.

From Windows

Press Win + R, type mstsc and press Enter. In the Remote Desktop Connection window:

• Computer: YOUR_VPS_IP:3389
• Click Connect → enter Administrator / Teddysun.com

From macOS

Download Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Mac App Store (free). Add a new PC with your VPS IP and port 3389.

From Linux

Use remmina or xfreerdp:

xfreerdp /v:YOUR_VPS_IP:3389 /u:Administrator /p:YourPassword /dynamic-resolution

From Android / iOS

Install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop app from Google Play or the App Store. Add a new PC connection with your VPS IP and credentials.

Method 1 — via Command Prompt (Fastest)

Open a Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator and run:

net user Administrator YourNewStrongPassword

Replace YourNewStrongPassword with a strong password (use uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols, at least 12 characters).

Method 2 — via Windows Settings

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del
2. Click Change a password
3. Enter the old password (Teddysun.com) and your new password
4. Click the arrow / press Enter to confirm

Does it work on ARM VPS?

Yes. ARM-based KVM VPS (e.g. Ampere Altra on Hetzner CAX, Oracle ARM, etc.) is fully supported. When running the installer on an ARM VPS, select option 47 — Windows 11 ARM. Do not select any other option on ARM VPS.

Will my existing Linux data be lost?

Yes. The installer overwrites the entire VPS disk with the Windows image. All existing data is permanently deleted. Always backup any important files before running the installer.

Can I install Windows without root access?

No. Root (or full sudo) access is required. The installer writes directly to the disk, which requires elevated privileges.

What if my VPS doesn't have enough disk space?

The installer requires at least 30 GB of disk. If your disk is smaller, the installation will fail. You can check your disk size with lsblk before running the installer.

My SSH connection dropped during installation. What happens?

If the SSH connection drops mid-installation, the process may have been interrupted. Wait 5–10 minutes and try to SSH back in. If you get a connection refused error, the VPS may have already rebooted into Windows — try the VNC console to check. If SSH still works, the Linux OS is still running and you can re-run the installer.

Can I reinstall Windows on the same VPS?

Yes. You can run the installer again on the same VPS. Each run deducts one credit. To reinstall, you'll need to boot the VPS back into Linux first (use your provider's "Reinstall OS" option to put Linux back), then run the installer again.

Is Windows activated?

Windows is installed in evaluation mode. It is fully functional but shows an activation watermark on the desktop. To remove the watermark, you need a valid Microsoft product key, which you can purchase from Microsoft or authorized resellers.

What is the default RDP port?

Port 3389. Make sure this port is open in your VPS provider's firewall or security group settings.

Can I use my license key on multiple VPS servers?

Yes. Each use deducts 1 credit. A 50-credit key can be used on 50 different servers (or the same server 50 times). There is no IP or domain locking.

Do credits expire?

No. Credits never expire as long as your account is active.

RDP Connection Refused

Cause: Windows hasn't finished booting, network isn't configured yet, or RDP port 3389 is blocked.

Fix:

1. Wait 3–5 minutes after the VPS reboots and try again
2. If still failing, log in via VNC first — the network auto-configuration script needs to run on first login
3. Check your provider's firewall/security group to ensure TCP port 3389 is open

"Cannot reach license server" Error

Cause: No internet connection on the VPS, or the connection timed out.

Fix: Verify your VPS has internet access: ping 8.8.8.8. If there's no network, re-provision your VPS or contact your provider.

"License key invalid" or "No credits remaining"

Cause: Incorrect key format, used all credits, or account issue.

Fix:

• Double-check you copied the full key including all dashes
• Check your remaining credits in your CloudWave billing panel
• If you believe this is an error, open a support ticket

VNC Shows Black/Blank Screen After Reboot

Cause: Windows is still booting, or the display driver hasn't initialized.

Fix: Wait 3–5 minutes. Click anywhere in the VNC viewer and press a key. If still blank after 10 minutes, do a hard reset from your provider's control panel.

Installation Seems Stuck / No Progress

Cause: Slow network speed on the VPS, or the download stalled.

Fix: The installer shows bytes copied and speed in real time. As long as the bytes count is increasing, it's working. A 8 GB download at 10 MB/s takes ~13 minutes. If there's truly no progress for 10+ minutes, cancel with Ctrl+C and re-run the installer. No extra credit is charged if installation fails.

Windows Boots but No Internet

Cause: Network auto-configuration didn't run (VNC first login was skipped).

Fix: Open the VNC console, log into Windows with the default credentials, and wait for the network script to run automatically. If it doesn't run, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

ipconfig /renew

Still Need Help?

Open a support ticket at cloudwavebd.com and include your VPS provider, the Windows version you selected, and the exact error message you saw.

CloudWave Windows Installer uses a simple one-time credit system. There are no subscriptions, no monthly fees, and no hidden charges.

How Credits Work

• Each install credit = one Windows installation on one VPS
• Credits are stored on your license key
• One credit is deducted each time you confirm an installation by typing YES
• Credits are not refunded if the installation fails after confirmation — but failed downloads (before you type YES) do not cost credits
• Credits never expire

Checking Your Remaining Credits

The installer shows your remaining credits every time you run it, right after license key validation:

[OK] License valid — 9 install(s) remaining

You can also check your credits by logging into the CloudWave billing panel and viewing your active services.

Buying More Credits

Visit installer.cloudwavebd.com/#pricing to purchase additional credit packs. After checkout, you'll receive a new license key by email. You can have multiple license keys.

Refund Policy

Credits are non-refundable once a successful installation has been authorized (i.e., after you type YES and the API deducts the credit). If you have an issue with a failed installation, open a support ticket and we'll review it case by case. See the full Refund Policy.