--- title: "How to reinstall your VPS's operating system" description: "How to rebuild your VPS from scratch in the VirtFusion panel, switch Linux distributions or move to Windows Server, and what to back up before hitting the button." url: "https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-reinstalar-o-sistema-operacional-da-vps" type: "article" language: "en" category: "VPS" published: "2026-09-02" translations: pt-BR: "https://redhosting.com.br/base-de-conhecimento/como-reinstalar-o-sistema-operacional-da-vps.md" en: "https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-reinstalar-o-sistema-operacional-da-vps.md" es: "https://redhosting.com.br/es/base-de-conhecimento/como-reinstalar-o-sistema-operacional-da-vps.md" de: "https://redhosting.com.br/de/base-de-conhecimento/como-reinstalar-o-sistema-operacional-da-vps.md" --- # How to reinstall your VPS's operating system How to rebuild your VPS from scratch in the VirtFusion panel, switch Linux distributions or move to Windows Server, and what to back up before hitting the button. - RedHosting knowledge base guide — category: VPS - HTML page: https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-reinstalar-o-sistema-operacional-da-vps - Published on: 2026-09-02 · Language: en Reinstalling wipes everything and returns the VPS to a freshly delivered state, with the system you choose. It's the way out when the configuration is lost, the machine was compromised or you simply want to switch distributions. ⚠️**Before you continue**: Reinstalling wipes the entire disk: files, databases, settings and certificates. There's no undo. ## 1. What to back up first Make the copy while the old machine still exists. What usually hurts to lose: - **Application files** — usually in `/var/www`, `/opt` or `/home`. - **Databases** — export with `mysqldump` or `pg_dump`. Copying the data folder with the service running produces an inconsistent file. - **Configuration files** — `/etc/nginx`, `/etc/apache2`, `.env` files, systemd units you created. - **SSL certificates** — `/etc/letsencrypt`, if you issued them with Certbot. - **Keys and credentials** — tokens, API keys, your `~/.ssh`. Check before rebuilding ✓Application files copied off the VPS. ✓Databases exported with `mysqldump` or `pg_dump`. ✓Configuration files and environment variables saved. ✓SSL certificates copied, or you're sure they'll be reissued. ✓Keys, tokens and credentials stored somewhere else. To bring everything to your computer, `scp` does the job: ``` scp -r root@YOUR_IP:/var/www ./vps-backup ``` RedHosting keeps a **daily automatic backup** of the VPS, but it's a safety net against the unexpected — it doesn't replace the copy you make knowing exactly what you need to take. ## 2. Reinstalling from the panel - Sign in at [financeiro.redhosting.com.br](https://financeiro.redhosting.com.br), go to **Services** → **My Services** and open the VPS. - Click **Open Control Panel** to open the VirtFusion panel. - On the server page, look for the option to **Rebuild** (or **Build**) the server. - Choose the operating system from the list. You're not tied to what was installed: you can go from Ubuntu to Debian, or from any Linux to Windows Server. - Confirm. The panel warns that data will be erased; it's your last chance to back out. Installation takes a few minutes. Windows Server takes longer, since it's a much bigger image. ## 3. After it finishes The panel generates a new password and **sends the credentials to the email registered on the account**. The previous password disappears along with the previous system. The **IP address doesn't change** — it's the same as before the reinstall. What changes is the machine's SSH identity, which is why your computer will complain on the first connection: ``` WARNING: REMOTE HOST IDENTIFICATION HAS CHANGED! ``` That's expected. Remove the old record and connect as usual: ``` ssh-keygen -R YOUR_IP ``` ## 4. First steps on the new system - **Update**: `apt update && apt upgrade -y` on Ubuntu and Debian, `dnf upgrade -y` on AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux. - **Change the root password** with `passwd`, or set up key-based access — see [How to access your Linux VPS via SSH](/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-acessar-sua-vps-linux-via-ssh). - **Restore** the files and databases you saved. - **Reissue the SSL certificates**, if you didn't bring the Let's Encrypt folder. ## 5. When reinstalling isn't the answer Reinstalling fixes a broken system. It doesn't fix: - **Lack of resources** — if the VPS is constantly maxed out on memory or CPU, the problem is the plan, not the system. An upgrade fixes it; reinstalling gives you back the same small machine. - **A misconfigured application** — reinstalling the system and repeating the same configuration reproduces the same problem within an hour. - **Suspected intrusion without investigation** — reinstalling is worth it, yes, but first find out how they got in. Otherwise the new system gets compromised the same way. ## Need help? If the reinstall hangs or the credentials don't arrive, open a ticket at [financeiro.redhosting.com.br](https://financeiro.redhosting.com.br) or contact support on WhatsApp at **+55 11 98833-3902**. ## Frequently asked questions **Does reinstalling delete my files?** Yes, the entire disk. Save files, databases, settings and certificates first — there's no undo. **Does the IP change after reinstalling?** No. The address stays the same; what changes is the machine's SSH identity, which is why your computer complains on the first connection. **Can I switch from Linux to Windows when reinstalling?** Yes. On the rebuild screen you can pick any system from the list, without being tied to what was installed. **Does the password stay the same?** No. The panel generates a new password and sends the credentials to the email registered on the account. ## Navigation — VPS (article 4 of 6) - Previous article: [How to access your Linux VPS via SSH](https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-acessar-sua-vps-linux-via-ssh.md) — https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/como-acessar-sua-vps-linux-via-ssh - Next article: [Ryzen 9 VPS or Xeon VPS: which one to choose](https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/vps-ryzen-9-ou-vps-xeon-qual-escolher.md) — https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento/vps-ryzen-9-ou-vps-xeon-qual-escolher - Back to the knowledge base: https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento --- Need help with these steps? RedHosting's 24/7 support: suporte@redhosting.com.br · WhatsApp +55 11 98833-3902 · https://redhosting.com.br/discord More guides: https://redhosting.com.br/en/base-de-conhecimento.md