macOS Monterey 12.7.6 won't install on my iMac

Hi Old Toad... I did try to install 12.7.6 in safe mode...no luck. Then I decided, what the hey..I'll just update to Ventura. I also was in safe mode. Nope. I seem to be stuck in 12.7.2.

My Mac is a 2017 (purchased in early 2018) and although g_wolfman gave me some good info, when I told him that I'm still stuck, he really didn't have any other suggestions. So please, Mr. Toad, what should I do now? I know Ventura is the last OS that I'll be able to upgrade to, but I can't seem to get out of Monterey. Not only have I tried in safe mode, but I have hardwired my keyboard, removed any other accessories and have used a hardwired mouse. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Old Toad...thanks for more diagnostics. Yes, I do have an anti-virus, anti-malware and a VPN. I will discontinue these and try again. I have about 400 gigs of free space on my boot drive. I would think that would be enough. I'll let you know if it works. Thanks.

Thank you BDAqua and Old Toad. I did run Disk Utilities and it looks like I do have a corrupted disk. I will try to repair in Recover Mode. I also had EtreCheck check my computer but I can't seem to attached the file. I don't want to fill up the space with 10 pages of report. Gosh...time to get a fresh Mac??

Downloaded appcleaner. Still couldn't delete Webroot and Avast. It said it was a protected file and to go to preferences to fix it. Clicked on preferences and neither of them were there for me to do anything. I'm about to give up. I didn't get the findanyfile - I would have to pay for it and frankly I'm thinking that I'd still run into the same problem. Now should I just go to recovery mode and use the disk utilities to fix the corrupted disk without doing all the uninstalls first? Got to make this simpler. Yes, I'd love to dump some of these applications but right now I can't even use an uninstaller because it won't recognize my password.

Hi BDAqua...I saw red on the main disk. I think I will just get a new Mac. This has been far more than I thought and has taken quite a bit of time over these past days. My main concern now with getting a new machine is how to keep it from loading unwanted applications. Do I just try to manually transfer data and applications? Thank you for all your help.

BDAqua....thank you for all your help. As soon as I typed my last reply I thought the same as you. Just transfer everything from the old into the new then delete, delete, delete.

This has been nearly a week of trial and error....time to finish and start with a fresh machine. Thanks again from an old g8orlvr.

Hi BDAqua...thanks for all the info on old Macs and displays. Right now it looks like I'm SOL with my Mac's display and a new Mac Mini. I have no other Mac and the displays would need to work with old Macs. Time to start fresh with everything.

Again, thanks for all your help.

I think the report is ready. Hope someone can find something. I have not used recovery mode yet for the first aid.

Thanks will give it a try.

Thanks for your help. Hopefully Old Toad will know something.