It could be that the system was powered off/crashed while in vipw
	(shutdown or halt should _always_ be used). 
	
	'man vipw' notes that "vipw uses pwd_mkdb(8) to update the user
	database" and 'man pwd_mkdb' lists the temporary files that you
	will most likely have to delete.

		David/abs	david@{mono.org,southern.com,mhm-internet.com}

     Microsoft: Asks you where you want to go. NetBSD gets you there.
System Manager: Southern Studios Ltd, PO Box 59, London N22 1AR.
  System Admin: MHM Internet, 14 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London W4 4PH.
         SysOP: Monochrome, Largest UK Internet BBS - 'telnet mono.org'.

On Sun, 23 Feb 1997, Jonathan Lyons wrote:

> Sorry for all the questions, guys. If you can stand one more, here it is:
> 
> When using vipw I get this reply:
> 
> vipw:the passwd file is busy
> 
> What do I do?
> 
>