This bug was fixed in the package user-setup - 1.23ubuntu15
--------------- user-setup (1.23ubuntu15) jaunty; urgency=low
[ Bryan McLellan ] * Consider a password of '!' in shadow for root to be unset (LP: #340841).
-- Colin Watson <email address hidden> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:16:04 +0000
This bug was fixed in the package user-setup - 1.23ubuntu15
---------------
user-setup (1.23ubuntu15) jaunty; urgency=low
[ Bryan McLellan ]
* Consider a password of '!' in shadow for root to be unset (LP: #340841).
-- Colin Watson <email address hidden> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:16:04 +0000