This website is dedicated to the installation and maintenance of Windows on a remote dedicated server that does not provide a Keyboard-Video-Mouse (KVM) interface. Such systems are often described as "headless" and installing Windows or rescuing a Windows installation on such a system can be extremely difficult.

Thus, we provide remote Windows installations adapted to your needs as our flagship service. We will undertake the task of installing Windows on your server so that you do not have to! 

We have worked with dedicated server providers such as OVH and their sister-brand Kimsufi.

Remote Windows Installation Services

At the moment we offer two services.

Vanilla/Default Windows Installation

We are able to install a range of Windows OSes on your dedicated server, using your own key or as an evaluation:

  • Windows Server 2003 R2 32-bit (Volume or Retail licence)
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard 32-bit/64-bit (Volume/Retail or 180-day Evaluation*)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard 64-bit (Volume/Retail or 180-day Evaluation*)

Further, Windows 7 Trial and Release Candidate 1 are available*:

  • Windows 7 Enterprise Trial (expires after 90 days)
  • Windows 7 Ultimate Trial (expires after 120 days)
  • Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 (expires March 1, 2010)

* Evaluation versions and Windows 7 RC1 do not require a key or license.

More details can be found here.

Pricing: £25

Custom Windows Installation

We are also able to install a custom Windows installation of your choice on your server.

This may be either through:

  • a customized ISO image preloaded with drivers/service packers/software/tweaks - suitable for those of you who want to use software like nLite/vLite to create a custom windows ISO or
  • a customized Virtual Machine image of any configuration - suitable for those of you want to create and configure a system completely before deploying it on your dedicated server. This is especially beneficial for people with multiple servers with similar configuration.

Pricing: Starts at £45 - will be negotiated depending on your exact needs. Contact us for details.

Is it not possible to get a server with Windows pre-installed?

Yes it is – most server providers allow you to rent a Windows SPLA license (suitable only for service providers) on a monthly basis for a fee. While this fee is fair, it significantly raises the cost of running a Windows dedicated server.

If you need the server for a couple of months, the added cost can render this option uneconomical.
Similarly, if you plan to use the server for an extended period of time (say, 12 or more months), then buying your own licence may also be more economical.

So, while it is certainly possible to get a ready-made Windows server or use your own SPLA key, installing your own legit copy of Windows is not an option offered by server providers, but we do!

What makes installing Windows on an OVH/Kimsufi server difficult?

There are several complications, such as the necessary interaction user interface interaction and the loading of required drivers that are very difficult to overcome without access to a Keyboard-Video-Mouse (KVM) interface.

KVM is sometimes offered as standard with higher-end server providers and as an expensive add-on for the rest. Some other providers over a virtualized KVM (e.g. OVH’s vKVM). However, there are several disadvantages when it comes to installing Windows with any of the above KVM solutions:

  • KVM over IP is usually expensive to set up and rent monthly. While installing Windows through KVM over IP is possible, it can take a large toll in the financial department. Further, some KVM over IP systems have various limitations such as the size of ISO images you can load as CD drives.
  • Virtualized KVM engines are based on virtualization engines such as QEMU that add a layer of virtual hardware to your server. While Linux is better able to cope with this, Windows does not appreciate the change of hardware. Thus, an installation of Windows over vKVM will fail, sooner or later.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a basic list of Frequently Asked Questions - the full list can be found here.

Can I install another flavour or Windows?

Absolutely. Windows Server 2003/2008/2008 R2 are supported, as well as Windows XP/Vista/7.

To request another Windows OS or if you are unsure, please contact us.

Make sure your server meets the minimum hardware requirements before you order.

Will you install a pirated copy of Windows for me?

No.

If you don’t have a legitimate copy of Windows, you can order an 180-day evaluation of Windows Server 2008 / 2008 R2 or a trial of Windows 7. You can also get Windows for free if you are a student or web developer.

Are you sure it will work on my server?

We are confident our methodology is robust to make the installation work for any hardware configuration. However, if for any reason we are not able to complete the installation, a full refund will be issued, no questions asked.

We have successfully worked with a variety of hardware configurations including OVH SP-09 (Mini and SSD), OVH MG-09, Kimsufi C-05G, Kimsufi Q-1T and Kimsufi i7-6T.

What about recovering/rescuing a Windows server after it has been installed?

Please see Backup, Rescue and Recovery for comprehensive instructions.

What about RAID?

If your server has two or more disks, you can set up Software RAID (0/1 or 5 if you have more than 3 disks) up once Windows is installed.

I want X, can you accomodate my request?

Usually yes, please contact us with your needs.

What is required? Do I have to give you access to my server's manager?

No, you don't have to share access to your OVH manager/Control panel or your NIC handle.

See Preparation for details.

Are you crazy? Why would I give you my cd-key?

For the installation to be completed, your legitimate cd-key is required.

We have a complete collection of Windows OSes sourced from our very own MSDN subscription and hence we have no reason to mistreat anyone's key.

If you still feel uneasy about sharing your key with us, we can install the evaluation version of Windows for you and provide instructions on how to install your key yourself. This can only be done with Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7.

How long does it take?

We process orders on a first-come first-serve basis, unless you select the “Express” option when ordering. With Express, your order will be processed first.

Jobs are usually delivered within 24 hours from the time of order and in some cases within 48 hours. In any case, once your order is received, you will receive an e-mail with an estimate of when your order will be completed.

This is a basic list of Frequently Asked Questions - the full list can be found here.