Stop the backgrounded process you have running that's
got it locked.

Quoting Daniel Bolgheroni (dab__@uol.com.br):
> I was trying to run vipw so I typed:
> 
> # vipw &
>  
> I don't wanted to run with '&' at the end. But after that, when I try to run 'vipw', I get the following message, even after a reboot:
>  
> # vipw
> vipw: the passwd file is busy.
> #
> 
> What can I do?
> 
> Thank you.