win10-cloud-install.txt

#!/bin/sh

#first install linux (i like debian) and ensure you have 3
#bootable partitions, with the disk partitioned as mbr.
#ext4 partition holding debian, with about 20GB free for downloads.
#ntfs with at least 32GB to install windows in.
#ntfs of about 32GB for preparing a bootable rescue disk.

#the default partitioning mode is gpr, with one linux partition that
#takes the whole disk. you may repartition the disk while booting a
#rescue debian, and convert to mbr as explained here:
#https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-convert-gpt-to-mbr-on-linux.

#i bought custom boot images space at contabo, and installed debian
#from it's net iso media. the only special thing was giving your vps
#ip as the ethernet address.
#https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/.

installation_image=6 #pro
menuentry_file=/etc/grub.d/45_custom

#put here the foloowing 2 files:
iso_loc=/usr/local/winfiles-dl

#see full instructions at: https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Windows_VirtIO_Drivers,
#and download the drivers iso at the link named "download the latest stable" on that page
#of course, you may prefer "download the most recent"
virtio_iso=${iso_loc}/virtio-win.iso
#choose what to download in the browser at:
#https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO
#you'll get a temporary link and wget the iso in your VPS.
win_iso=${iso_loc}/Win10_21H2_English_x64.iso

tmp_wim=/tmp/wim
subdir_virtio=${tmp_wim}/virtio
wim_log=/tmp/wim-log
win_mnt=/mnt

wim_part_no=3
wim_device=/dev/sda${wim_part_no}
eval $(blkid -o export ${wim_device})
wim_uuid=${UUID}

win_part_no=2
win_device=/dev/sda${win_part_no}
eval $(blkid -o export ${win_device})
win_uuid=${UUID}


adddate() {
    while IFS= read -r line; do
        printf '%s %s\n' "$(date -u)" "$line";
    done
}

virtio_wim() {
    echo "preparing ${1}.wim part ${2}" | tee -a ${wim_log}
    mkdir -p ${tmp_wim}
    wim_file=${win_mnt}/sources/${1}.wim
    wimlib-imagex mountrw ${wim_file} ${2} ${tmp_wim}
    echo "before:" | adddate >> ${wim_log}
    ls -l ${wim_file} | tee -a ${wim_log}
    du -s ${tmp_wim} | tee -a ${wim_log}
#    wiminfo ${wim_file} ${2} >> ${wim_log}
    mkdir -p ${subdir_virtio}
    7z x ${virtio_iso} -o${subdir_virtio}
    echo "after:" | adddate >> ${wim_log}
    du -s ${tmp_wim} | tee -a ${wim_log}
    wimlib-imagex unmount ${tmp_wim} --commit
    ls -l ${wim_file} | tee -a ${wim_log}
#    wiminfo ${wim_file} ${2} >> ${wim_log}
    echo "------------------" | tee -a ${wim_log}
}

unpack_win() {
    echo "umount ${wim_device}"
    umount ${wim_device}
    echo "mkfs.ntfs ${wim_device} --fast"
    mkfs.ntfs ${wim_device} --fast
    echo "mount ${wim_device} ${win_mnt}"
    mount ${wim_device} ${win_mnt}
    echo "7z x ${win_iso} -o${win_mnt}"
    7z x ${win_iso} -o${win_mnt}
}

grub_menuentry() {
cat > ${menuentry_file} << EOM
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 \$0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
menuentry 'Windows Recovery / Install (on ${wim_device})' --class windows --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ntfs
    insmod ntldr
    set root='hd0,msdos${wim_part_no}'
    ntldr /bootmgr
    boot
}

menuentry "Windows 10" --class windows --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod fat
    if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root  7A03-CA46
    else
      search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 7A03-CA46
    fi
    chainloader /efi/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
}

menuentry "Windows 10" --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-efi-' {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod fat
    insmod ntfs
    set root='hd0,msdos2'
#    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root CE922B2D922B198B
#    chainloader /efi/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
    ntldr /bootmgr
    boot
}
EOM
chmod +x ${menuentry_file}
}

rm -f ${wim_log}
unpack_win
virtio_wim "boot" 1
virtio_wim "boot" 2
virtio_wim "install" ${installation_image}

grub_menuentry

update-grub
#grub-mkconfig

#boot the vps from the windows menuentry.
#start the installation.
#when the program will ask for the installation media,
#select the installation disk X:\virtio\amd64\w10, found and took scsi drivers.
#continue the installation flavour, like the installation image above.
#in the window with the partition selection, install in the 32GB ntfs partition above,
#and additional drivers may be loaded.
#load the X:\virtio\NetKVM and X:\virtio\Balloon \w10\amd64.
#better explained here: https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Windows_10_guest_best_practices.
#i should have installed qxl video drivers, will do that later.
#windows will reboot, and let you continue the installation.

#shut down windows and run debian rescue again, to reactivate the dual boot menu.
#mount the first (linux) device: mount /dev/sda1 /mnt.
#reinstall grub:
#grub-install --directory=/mnt/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda

#my solution was based on study of the following sources, though i wasn't able to apply,
#due to my clumsiness:
#https://erisa.dev/install-windows-on-a-contabo-vps/
#https://savepearlharbor.com/?p=294698
#https://www.whatuptime.com/community/technical-support/windows-10-on-contabo-ssd-vps/

#see another approach:
#https://medium.com/@pistol.air32/running-windows-10-at-contabo-vps-1a0f6a82dfdb