1. A method for maintaining a replacement file that persistently replaces a corresponding original file, the method comprising: identifying, within a virtual operating system instance associated with an earlier version of an operating system, the replacement file that corresponds to the original file of the virtual operating system instance, wherein the earlier version of the operating system is earlier than a later version of the operating system associated with a kernel that supports the virtual operating system instance; in response to detecting an updated original file, renaming the updated original file of the virtual operating system instance; and replacing a first reference to the updated original file with a second reference to the replacement file.