# passwd macondo. If you don't know the root password then select option 2, "Single user" from the boot menu, which, unless you changed any settings, will log you in as root and you can change the root password with # passwd. mount -u -o rw -a, then try adding the user again with adduser macondo. There is no need to reboot (unless you want to satisfy yourself that all is well) as you can exit to multiuser and log in as macondo. adduser macondo and logging in as macondo.