backup iPhone 5 with iTunes stuck on step 2 of 4

this is an iphone 5 osx 7.1.1 backing up to itunes 11.2.1 on osx10.9.3. completely restored the iphone after struggling with this issue. re installed itunes. checked for updates everywhere. none of this helped. well actually the "OTHER" area in the thermometer was reduced sifnificantly thats nice. does anybody know what itunes is trying to do at this step? i checked and repaired disk permissions and i cant think of anything else to do. thanks!