"Preparing macOS Monterey 12.2.1" freezes at 15 minute remain point

What is your current macOS version? If you're skipping an upgrade version, you might want to do an incremental, sequential upgrade. In this case, your current macOS version must be 12.2 to do a sequential update to the 12.2.1 version.

If your current macOS version is 12.2, then you may need to reinstall your macOS via recovery mode. Make sure that you have a Time Machine backup of your device before doing so. Please see the articles below for reference.

Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

I agree with the previous poster recommendations. Here are some other points/recommendations

Also uninstall any antivirus and "cleaning" apps before trying installing again.

Further, you need an Apple disk installed to upgrade to Monterey since the upgrade includes an update to the Mac's firmware. That update looks for an Apple disk and write to the dick to do the firmware update. The install will terminate or freeze if no Apple disk.

Try booting to Safe Mode. That boot up takes minutes and clears caches and other things that may resolve your problem.

Delete the existing Monterey installer that should be in your Applications folder. Then redownoad the installer and try installer when n safe made.

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

A lot of times just boot to Safe Mode followed by normal boot resolves problems.

Have you tried the steps provided earlier? You might want to provide more details about any error messages or what you are seeing/experiencing along the way.

*** !!! Try the steps provided above first.

If you still cannot continue, follow the article to the dot below.

How to repair a Mac disk with Disk Utility - Apple Support

Once you're done with the above steps, exit Disk Utility, back on to Recovery Mode, then reinstall macOS.

How are you trying to go to 12.2 vs 12.2.1?

What happens when you try to go to 12.2?

If you really what to go to 12.2 you will have to reinstall the entire macOS.

You can download the 12.2 installer by entering the following in the Terminal app:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 12.2

I am on 12.1, I can't seem to install only 12.2 before going to 12.2.1