How can i create new /etc/shadow and /etc/gshadow files from the etc/passwd and etc/group files respectively.

I moved my complete samba installation - users and groups to a new HDD but forgot the shadow files. Running for a week now and passwords changed and users added so I do not want to go back to the old shadow files.

You're getting a reply because I'm responding to Jeremy's request for help with zero reply questions; I am not an expert! However, in this case I might have a useful suggestion: if you don't know about webmin, it may help solve your problems. This is a free, browser-based system administrator's tool. It has easy, straightforward support for stuff like password assignments. Download it from webmin.com and install it as a root tool. It'll place a link in your bookmarks to log in with your usual root PW; it's mostly a local system, using a local server on your own computer (although some stuff, like info and updates for webmin itself take you out to remote locations). I've been using it for some time and it is ideal for those of us who don't have a lot of experience managing a Linux installation.