It's something everybody thinks time to time on their phd journey. Probably very little number actually is doing it. It's probably just a dream of many phd students similar to how some hard working employee may want to quit his job and move to his dream destination.
I've started my PhD degree in April 2006. I was fresh, somewhat interested in the topic and thought it'd be good to get a PhD degree before I go off to work. The university was kind enough to offer me a scholarship. The research facilities for this topic were also the best for Europe which is a big advantage. Everything seemed nice, the sun was shining and I was spending days in the lab. I've had lots of ambitions to submit to conferences even though the research was not yet up to the level, many hopes (lots of fear to fail too). In the second year it was a major slow down, between 2nd and 3rd I've been toying with idea to quit, but having nothing better to do made me stay in 3rd. I've done a little progress then. When the 4rth year came, my 3 years funding was over, I've moved away to save money for housing and living costs. Actually I moved in with my long-distance partner, which meant moving to a new country. Things went great in my relationship, things went downhill in my PhD. Now it's 4.5 years into it (PhD) and nothing has been moving. It's mainly my fault. I'm probably over reacting, but I can't find any way to force myself to get to work on it again. It's more of a body response when you had too much of something.
In the same time, after having been called a 'PhD student' for so many years, I feel like it became a part of my identity, of who I am. Having spent years in academic community where Mphil is considered to be a failed PhD I find it difficult to ask for one instead of battling over PhD without any hope for progress in it (I'm myself fully to blame of course).

Can one just quit it? Is it a reality and not things of legends? :) What do people write on their resume then to justify the years spent doing what is basically a research? I'm sure that there are skills I'm taking with me from it... even without this degree and I'm not sure I need this degree anymore.

Any advice/comments and suggestions are appreciated.

It seems you need to motivate yourself to finish what you started. It is very difficult to get things done when you don't have enough motivation, but this is something you will be proud of upon completion. Why not have a break from it for sometime and do something totally different, or remind yourself what were your motives back in 2006 ;-) Then you will be fresh once again and can complete your Ph.D.

Good luck my friend - anything I can help you with please just ask (up)

I walked away from a full-time PhD in 1996. It was the hardest decision I ever made, but once I made it I knew it was right. I was part-way through a fully funded PhD, but had fallen long-term ill. I didn't realise how seriously then, but I knew I couldn't complete the PhD, and going part-time wasn't an option. So I left.

It was very very painful. I grieved for that lost PhD. To complicate matters my husband was continuing with his, in the same department, and he completed it. I was very proud of him, but also found it hard to cope with at the same time.

Because of the illness I wasn't able to work, so CV/resume wasn't a concern. But I did have to declare my lost PhD when I reapplied for part-time postgraduate study years later. And I was totally up front about it, even with the funding council (opposite discipline from before) who might have restricted my funding the second-time around, but didn't.

I wish you luck, but to be honest if you're 4.5 years through and it's a question of you getting on with it I'd try to stick with it. I had no choice but to quit. You're nearly there. What have you left to do? Writing up? Could you manage that at a distance? Could you take a bit more of a break then try to get back into it again? Give it one last shot?

But if it is time to leave you'll know it, and it won't matter what anyone else says.

Good luck!

sorry to hear about your illness at the time which cost your PhD but it was a blessing in the disguise surely.

I hear what exactly you're saying. I wanted to do my PhD and faced financial problems and the university I wanted to go to didn't have teh supervisor but I understand they have for next year. I'll be doing my best to secure my place but need advice and tips on writing a good proposal and finding fully funded PhD. Any tips?

Thanks everyone for your replies. Just to clarify one point, I haven't fallen ill (at least one good thing) and 'the body response' wasn't the illness, it's more of some mental block. I just can't make myself do more work on this phd at the moment. Also just to be very practical, is there any way to wrap up the 4.5 years into some suitable line on the resume/CV if I don't have a diploma after?