Thanks for all for your responses - 
'dxaccounts' leaves a file /etc/.AM_is_running to prevent running
multiple instances of the same program;  this file was left by
an incorrectly terminated 'dxaccounts', once it was removed,
the problem message disappeared.
Best regards,
Lev
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Lev Gelb                  gelb+_at_pitt.edu            
http://www.pitt.edu/~gelb
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Chemistry, 905 Chevron Science Center 
Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA                ph:(412)624-1217,  fax:(412)624-8611
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"if you're not part of the solution, you're 
          part of the precipitate"              ---- Steve Wright
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 15:17:57 -0700
From: "Venkata, Raviprasad" <RVenkata_at_caiso.com>
To: 'Lev Gelb' <gelb+_at_pitt.edu>
Subject: RE: "password and group files locked"
Raviprasad
Received on Thu Apr 15 1999 - 16:09:25 NZST