Useradd locked?

[Loonygirl]

Hi,

Sorry...another problem.
My GUI will not work on the Unix box. I have rebooted several times, but it just falls over.

I don't really care about this as I work off the command line anyway....but it means that I cannot add a new user.

I am trying to use the command 'useradd' but I am getting the message 'The password and group files are currently locked by another user. Please try again later'. I can only assume this is because my GUI has crashed as I have not been able to access this command (and it's related ones) since the GUI started doing this.

So, how can I release the lock on these files?
I am the only one who is logged in as root, so noone else should have locked me out....

Thanks,

Sarah

 

[pete91z]

have a look in /etc for filenames starting with '.' - on tru64 the gui creates a lock file like this.

 

[Loonygirl]

The only things which are there don't (to me) look like locks?


Examples (from ls -al)

-rwxr-xr-x 1 bin bin 16 Dec 30 1997 .new..ultrix_path
-rwxr-xr-x 1 bin bin 1669 Dec 30 1997 .new..ultrix_profile
-rwxr-xr-x 1 bin bin 1 Dec 30 1997 .proto..TIMEZONE
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root uucp 12213 Dec 30 1997 .proto..acucap
-rwxr-xr-x 1 bin bin 1863 Dec 30 1997 #.mrg..shells
-rwxr--r-- 1 bin bin 4356 Oct 1 1999 #.mrg..sysconfigtab


Sarah

 

[Mike042]

Hi Sarah,

I encountered the very same problem soon after I was asked to look after some Tru64 systems.
To expand on the post from pete91z, look for the file /etc/.AM_is_running and remove it. This should allow your accounts GUI to work. (for info AM stands for Accounts Manager).

I hope that helps you.

Mike

PS. There is a "DEC (HP/Compaq): DIGITAL UNIX forum" which might be more appropriate for Tru64 posts.

 

[Loonygirl]

Hi Mike,

Thanks That's fab - works perfectly now!!

Sarah