.. include:: /urls.rst

.. _server_reinstalling_os:

Reinstalling OS
===============


.. _server_reinstalling_os_pureos:

PureOS
------

These instructions reflash the stock Operating System (OS) image on a Librem Server.

.. note::

   Librem Servers shipped before August 2025 shipped with PureOS GNOME.
   To install PureOS GNOME, see :ref:`Install PureOS <pureos_installation>`.

.. warning::

   This process irrecoverably erases all data from your Librem Server!
   Back up any of your data you wish to retain before reinstalling.

#. Obtain the `latest Librem Server PureOS Crimson image <pureos_crimson_latest_server_luks_>`_
#. Copy that file to a flash drive *as a file*
    * **Do not** ``dd`` it to the flash drive.
      Simply copy it as an ordinary file.
#. Boot to the PureOS recovery console
    * If PureBoot stops boot with an error, select **Continue to main menu**, then navigate to the recovery console
    * If PureBoot says it will boot automatically, press the space bar to interrupt boot, then navigate to the recovery console
#. Plug in the flash drive containing the OS image
#. Run the command: ``mount-usb``, then follow prompts if any occur (none if device has only one unencrypted partition)
#. Run the command: ``xzcat /media/pureos-11-server-flash-luks-20250812_amd64.img.xz | dd of=/dev/nvme0n1 bs=1M conv=fsync``
    * Adjust the path and PureOS image name if needed.
#. After completion, run the command: ``reboot``
#. The Librem Server will boot to the new OS.  If you are using PureBoot's tamper-evident boot, PureBoot will prompt you to set up tamper-evident boot again.


.. _server_reinstalling_os_other_os:

Another OS
----------

Most Linux distributions work on Librem Server.
USB boot and installation are the same for all PureBoot devices.

PureBoot requires a separate, unencrypted ``/boot`` partition.
If the OS defaults to an encrypted ``/boot``, partition manually.