adding new user account

[Linuxfresher]

When I wrote down in terminal "useradd abcd -p pass" it showed me the message which read "useradd: cannot lock /etc/passwd; try again later".
So please suggest me any solution with a little bit of explanation if possible as I am quite new to linux.

[DaveLembke]

Tons of info on Google... here is a link I pulled out from search.

http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/06/useradd-adduser-newuser-how-to-create-linux-users/

[Geek-9pm]

Would help if OP would say which version of Linux.
Also, is he using BASH at the terminal?
Is he adding a new user or change a   password?
Does he wan to change is password or somebody ease's?

[jormeno]

make sure you are logged in as root or a sudoer.

type the command adduser "name" (no quotes)

than type passwd "password" (no quotes)