mtree unable to find group wheel, possible corrupt /etc/group file

[keneasson]

Hi all,

I've got a number of ports that will build but not install.

The error is:

===>   Generating temporary packing list
===>  Checking if deskutils/gucharmap already installed
mtree: line 1: unknown group wheel---
*** Error code 1


I discovered that i had patch code left over from mergemaster in my /etc/group file, i have deleted and rebooted.
unfortunately, i still get the same error when i try to install ports.

the group file seems to have been readable to something, as i could sudo and su from my login user. 

any help greatly appreciated.

# $FreeBSD: src/etc/group,v 1.35.10.1 2009/08/03 08:13:06 kensmith Exp $
#
wheel:*:0:root,justken,www
daemon:*:1:
kmem:*:2:
sys:*:3:
tty:*:4:
operator:*:5:root
...
authpf:*:63:
_pflogd:*:64:
_dhcp:*:65:

-ken