I started a routine recommended update from the update manager and it appears to have crashed during the installation phase...

(Reading database ... 237050 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace binutils 2.20.1-3ubuntu7 (using .../binutils_2.20.1-3ubuntu7.1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement binutils ...

It's been stuck on this for ages, I think it is right at teh start of the installation so hopefully nothing has been changed just yet. Is it safe to force a quit? I don't want to brick my installation because of quitting halfway through an update...