low cost VPS server: what survives an operating system reinstall?
If you reinstall an operating system on an existing low-cost VPS, treat data on its system disk as at risk of deletion. The official pages checked here explicitly preserve an OVHcloud additional disk in the documented VPS reinstall flow; the IONOS and netcup pages reviewed do not state the same separate-disk exception. Confirm the exact product and storage attachment before starting.
This is a reading of published instructions, not a reinstall test. “Not stated” below means the cited page does not settle that case. It does not mean the data is safe or that it will be erased.
What each provider documents
| Provider | What the reinstall page says about data | Separate disk boundary in the reviewed page |
|---|---|---|
| OVHcloud | The control-panel guide says reinstalling deletes VPS data and gives an exception for additional disks. Its additional-disk guide also says that disk’s data remains unaffected by a VPS reinstall. | The exception is documented for additional disks. OVHcloud says the additional-disk feature is unavailable in Local Zones. Check the exact offer and storage type before relying on it. |
| IONOS | The image reinstall article says the existing server data is removed and replaced by the selected image. It applies to VPS purchased after May 16, 2023 [B]. | The article reviewed does not describe an attached-disk exception. Ask support to confirm any separate volume’s treatment for the specific VPS. |
| netcup | The media documentation says a fresh operating-system installation clears the server drive’s existing contents. Its login troubleshooting page calls this a complete reset and warns that user data is deleted. | The media page does not explain a separate-volume exception. Treat that point as unconfirmed until the exact storage arrangement is identified. |
These statements describe the cited documentation. They do not establish that similarly named storage options behave alike across providers.
Before you click reinstall
The practical risk is often a mismatch between where a file lives and what the reinstall action targets. Use this short inventory against your own server; it is a preparation checklist, not a recovery guarantee.
- Label the storage. Record which data is on the system disk and which is on a separately attached volume. Save the provider’s exact product name and the server identifier alongside the inventory.
- Match the operation to the documentation. Check that the page covers your VPS generation, image or reinstall workflow, and storage type. An exception for one additional disk does not automatically apply to snapshots, backups, or every region.
- Keep an independent copy. Export databases and copy required files and configuration away from the VPS before a destructive reinstall. A second disk attached to the same server is not an independent copy if the provider page does not say what happens to it.
- Write down what must be rebuilt. Note the OS image, application versions, firewall rules, DNS records, credentials recovery path, and any license or key that the new system will need. The provider pages establish data deletion boundaries; they do not promise that your application will be rebuilt for you.
- Resolve ambiguity first. If the documentation does not address your separate volume or product region, ask the provider about that exact configuration and keep the answer with your change record. Do not use another vendor’s disk exception as evidence.
Data left on disk does not equal a restored server
Practical inference from the cited documentation: a statement that data remains on an attached disk answers whether that disk's contents are expected to survive. It does not say that the reinstalled operating system will recreate mount settings, application paths, services, or permissions. Treat disk survival and application recovery as separate questions because the provider pages document the former without promising the latter.
Before the change, record the disk identity and mount path from the running system. After the reinstall, verify that the volume is still attached, inspect it before formatting, then restore only the mount and service configuration you have backed up. If the provider's page is ambiguous about attachment or contents, stop before writing to the disk and get a product-specific answer. This is a cautious workflow derived from the documented boundaries, not a tested recovery procedure.
Does an extra disk always survive a VPS reinstall?
No. The OVHcloud documentation reviewed contains an additional-disk exception in its control-panel overview and a separate guide saying attached-disk data stays in place; however, its reinstall section also uses a broad warning about disk formatting. Clarify the exact service before relying on that exception. The additional-disk guide also says the feature is unavailable in Local Zones. The IONOS and netcup pages cited here do not make that same exception. Their silence leaves the separate-disk case unresolved; it is not evidence that those disks are retained or wiped.
How to use this comparison
Match the source to the operation you plan to run, then ask about any storage object the page leaves out. The downloadable CSV keeps each provider statement beside its source and marks the missing separate-disk detail as unconfirmed. It is a document comparison, not a backup, data recovery, or provider support test.
Download the reinstall data scope table (CSV)Evidence and source links
- A — OVHcloud VPS control-panel guide: VPS management, reinstallation, and additional-disk exception. The guide is marked last updated January 21, 2026.
- B — IONOS Help: Reinstalling an Image (VPS). Source for the data deletion statement and the purchase-date scope.
- C — netcup Documentation: Media. Source for the OS installation deletion statement; the page is marked last updated July 20, 2026.
- Additional OVHcloud cross-check: How to configure an additional disk. It describes the separate disk’s reinstall behavior and the Local Zone limitation.
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