# Check a server before changing its operating system

Use the CloudExa VPS panel to replace a VPS operating system with an available template. Reinstalling is a destructive action: it is not a repair step for a forgotten password, a full disk or an application error.

## Back up before you continue

**Reinstalling erases and replaces the machine operating system and its current data.** Treat the VPS as a new installation. Download files and application configuration, export databases, and store recovery copies outside the VPS. Check that you can open those copies before confirming anything.

Write down the service name, IP addresses, current operating system and applications you need to rebuild. Note DNS entries, scheduled tasks, firewall rules and software licences. A backup sitting on the disk you are about to replace will not protect you. If you need to keep the current installation, stop here and contact support.

## Choose and confirm the reinstall

1. Sign in to [the VPS panel](https://cloud.cloudexa-hosting.com) and select the intended service. Check its name and IP against your records.
2. Open **Settings → General** and find **Reinstall Server**.
3. Select an operating system from the available templates. A template listed for another service or location may not be available on this VPS.
4. Enter a new **System OS Password**. The panel requires 8–191 US-keyboard characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, a number and a symbol.
5. Select **Start server after reinstall** if you want the panel to start the VPS when installation finishes.
6. Choose **Reinstall**. Read the final warning and choose **Confirm** only after you have checked the service and secured your backups.

## Wait for installation to finish

The panel shows an installing state while it rebuilds the VPS. Leave the job to finish. Do not submit a second reinstall, change templates again or force a power action to clear a loading screen. If the state does not progress, contact support with the service ID and the time you confirmed the job.

## Check the new system

1. When installation completes, check the power status. Start the VPS if you did not select the start-after-reinstall option.
2. Use the console to check that the operating system boots and accepts the expected account credentials.
3. Test SSH using the credentials and username appropriate for the selected template.
4. Install security updates, restore applications and data, and verify their permissions before reopening access to users.

A reinstall can change the SSH host key. If your SSH client warns about a changed key, confirm that the reinstall completed and verify the new fingerprint through a trusted channel before updating your saved key. Do not disable host-key checking to suppress the warning.

If you only want to change credentials, use [the password-change guide](https://help.cloudexa-hosting.com/books/vps-dedicated-servers/page/change-or-recover-your-linux-vps-password). For an in-place operating system upgrade that preserves applications, ask support about a separate plan rather than choosing Reinstall.