Automatic updater stalls at "Old files have been deleted!"

initialise ok, next
backup skipped, next
download ok, next
“Old files have been deleted!” and nothing more after nearly an hour… next remains grey

visible directories (via ftp) all with correct datetime :
tmp_uploaded_update
config
updater

host is siteground (shared server)

solution? restore lists directory and database from server backups, update manually via ftp, delete tmp_uploaded_update and updater folders

suspicion? siteground derailed the automatic update process