[BusyBox] can't add root user: passwd: unknown uid 0

[michael at michaelshiloh.com]

(Repost. I asked this question yesterday and have had no replies. 
If I have broken some rule please let me know how so that I can
mend my ways.)

Hi.

I have busybox version 1.0. Shell seems OK and all the stuff I've played
with seems to work, except for the users and groups:

#   rm /etc/passwd /etc/shadow /etc/group
#   rmdir /root
#   touch /etc/passwd /etc/shadow /etc/group
#   adduser -h /root root
passwd: unknown uid 0

Any tips?

Thanks,
Michael