debian:~# apt-get -o DPkg::Options::="--force-overwrite --force-confmiss" --reinstall install ssh openssh-server Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree... Done 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded. 2 not fully installed or removed. Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y dpkg: unknown force/refuse option `overwrite --force-confmiss' Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*]; Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management; Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values; Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options; Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files; Type dpkg --license for copyright license and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*]. Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' ! E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)