I've solved the problem - so I thought I'd share as others may have it -
Essentially what seems to have caused the problem and how I solved it non destructively if others are having the same issue (off my own back and intuition)
At the point I'm talking about within the install its a setup assistant application for the new (more gimmicky not performance or core OS installation) features iCloud Keychain etc .. The core OS IS installed ..
Hot corners proved this as they were working , I could see my apps , and a software updater trying to prompt me to update CS5 as the OS is updated -
I had to use alt-cmd-escape - which on attempting to force quit the app failed it said I had to restart it also told me all application memory was being used - (considering the only things running were finder , set up assistant and the CS5 updater , I find it hard to believe it was using 12gb of RAM ) - this paused the application when I refused the restart It suggested on attempting to force quit it .. Which allowed me to use hot corners to get to the updater and update CS5, which I believe to be causing the hang - it also allowed and also switch to Finder which showed my data was intact- blagged a HD (although it proved not to be necessary) and time machined - restarted the machine probably quite bravely ... On restart cmd-r - had to re-enter the password for my wifi ... Reinstalled Mavericks OTA - went through set up assistant - set up the features - however due to the issue - I've lost my entire Keychain ... Which in the big scheme of things is NOT the end of the world -
2 hours of **** and fear I solved it... Hope this helps everyone else with the issue and I'm not the only person in the world with the issue - if you ignore the iCloud Keychain initially even if it hangs because of the software updater - I don't think you'll loose your key chain ..
Proves self logic (not the program) can work ... Although i only ended up finding this solution after violently repeated hammeing the force quit command - they say violence doesn't work with computers but if I hadn't repeatedly violently taken my frustrations out on alt-cmd -escape I wouldn't have found the solution - so maybe sometimes it does !!! Just do it to the keyboard (on a iMac ) not the screen as their a lot cheaper to replace !!!
I hope this helps
