Yes, a 

Samsung 980 PRO 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD (MZ-V8P2T0B/AM)

will work. However, unless you really need that much space on C-Drive, the 1-tb model will work just as good. 

See XPS-8930 Service Manual PDF. You install a NVMe-SSD in the special slot on the motherboard.

I think it has to be C-drive (boot drive). Also, you want all Windows, programs, and Apps (usually about 256gb) on there anyway as it is 5-times faster than any 2.5inch SATA-3/600 SSD. 

Yes, The 2.5inch (SATA-3/600) Intel 7600P 1TB SSD drive becomes D-Drive. As usual, if you need to install a 2.5 inch drive in a 3.5 inch bay, you get common adapter.

@BDaddy1969 As @Tesla1856 indicated there is an M.2 SSD connector on the motherboard; you don't need to use a PCIe adapter card.

First, I would try to repair the winload.efi error. I believe you can use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 to create a bootable USB to fix the error. You can also try one of the methods in this article: https://www.diskpart.com/articles/winload-efi-missing-7201.html

@Vic384 

That is a good suggestion but it may be best to go ahead and clean install just incase the Winload error is caused by a virus you never know.

@Tesla1856 

The link to that common adapter is for SATA ssd's. The OP is using nvme and want's the old one as backup. But there is only 1 nvme slot Dell's common mistake on the XPS models.

@BDaddy1969 

You will need a nvme enclosure that connects to USB. Back to the "Winload.efi is missing or corrupt" error. After 3 attempts Windows should go into the repair and it should repair the error. If you are successful maybe you can use a cloning program and clone the old drive to the new.

Thanks @Vic384 . I hadn't seen that article that you linked for the Winload.efi error. I'll check that out. My hesitation is with the part about disabling Secure Boot. There are a lot of warnings out there about disabling Secure Boot. Is it easy to re-enable it after I get the issue resolved?

Thanks @CTG_8273 . I should have provided more details. My XPS 8930 had actually been upgraded to Windows 11, and when this issue occurred (and I think still at this time), there was no Windows 11 Media Creation Tool. For some reason, my PC would never go to the Windows Repair mode. I could only get to the Dell SupportOS Recovery utilities. I tried doing a repair there, it ran, but didn't fix the issue. After doing some searches, I was able to get to the Windows Repair mode by creating a Windows 11 Recovery disk from another Windows 11 laptop. I found a number of YouTube videos about how to fix the Winload.efi issue, and ultimately they all included the step to disable Secure Boot. I got a little scared at that point. A search for disabling secure boot mentioned that it could result in having to reinstall from installation media. I really need to keep what is on the current drive until I can get a new one ready to replace it and get the apps reinstalled, and I don't really know what all apps are on it.

I looked at the link that @Vic384 included for how to fix the winload.efi issue, and it also includes disabling secure boot.

Is disabling secure boot not as scary as it sounds? As long as I don't install anything while secure boot disabled, will I be able to re-enable secure boot once I (hopefully) can get the current C: drive SSD to boot again?

One other question...Will I be able to use an external USB-attached SSD as the C: (boot) drive on a permanent basis?

Thanks @Tesla1856 . I had raised a question with Dell Support, and they said that the slot on the motherboard would only accommodate a 1TB max SSD. Do you know if a 2TB drive would work in that slot. Also, in my XPS 8930, it looks like in order to get to that slot on the motherboard, I would have to remove my graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080). Is that a straightforward thing to do?

Thanks!

---

@BDaddy1969 wrote:

 

1. Do you know if a 2TB drive would work in that slot.

2. I would have to remove my graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080). Is that a straightforward thing to do?

 

---

1. I guess not.

2. If you are asking the question, then NO. I suggest you get some help.

That is a nice machine and "really nice" video card. Please do not blow it up.

Re: I had raised a question with Dell Support, and they said that the slot on the motherboard would only accommodate a 1TB max SSD. Do you know if a 2TB drive would work in that slot.

Often times Dell support gives out incorrect info or they might mean 1 TB ssd is the max Dell has validated but does not mean they had tried 2 TB ssd and it would not work.

a word of mouth by a BestBuy customer with verified purchase is that this Samsung - 970 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive "works great on Dell XPS 8930."

Questions and Answers: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND Technology MZ-V7S2T0B/AM - Best Buy

@BDaddy1969 This article tells you how to disable/enable secure boot: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-disable-secure-boot