I'm testing on a separate server so it's easier to just delete the rows in the table.

Regardless, still the same problem. I made a fresh copy of all the 6.5 data and restored it on the new server. I deleted the two boards with apostrophes in the title. I dropped and recreated the 7.3 tables and ran the importer again. Same result - stops in the boards step after importing the same three forums. I left it for a couple of hours and nothing else happened.

Might need you to open up a support ticket so I can add some debug code into the importer to see what's going on.

is this problem fixed? I do a update right now and encounter the same problem. Update a 6.2.2 to 6.5.5 und try running the importer. The same thing happen to me: stopped while importing boards and the browser say ready ... nothing else happen.

it stopped at /importers/threads_import.php?ubb=boards with importing only 2 boards

I stuck at this point and like to bring the board online again.
/update: I fix it like Gizmo: install 7.2.2, use an older importer and then do an update. But it would be nice to have an working 7.3.1 importer