XPS 8920, fresh install of Windows 10

I suspected that 16GB SSD is an issue because It reported one "read error" when I run the hardware test from Bios. So I removed 16GB SSD.

@tomrick81 Is it possible that the 16GB SSD is Optane memory? Perhaps this may help: https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln309490/how-to-install-windows-10-when-intel-optane-is-installed-on-your-alienware-system?lang=en

If you removed that SSD, did you change BIOS from RAID to AHCI before launching the installer?

Have you read this?

Did you disconnect all USB devices, except mouse and keyboard? And if you have them, use a wired USB mouse and a wired USB keyboard, not wireless...

After I removed SSD, I tried both RAID and AHCI, but they all did not work.

Are you sure the Window 10 you downloaded to USB matches the Factory installed Win 10 originally on the PC?  If you had Win 10 home, you need to download home too.  If you had Win 10 Pro then you should download Pro.  They are not compatible in license activation.  Also I would not type in license key at the beginning of install.  Just choose "I do not have key" and activate later when install is completed.

The windows 10 I downloaded from Microsoft is the latest version, so it should not the same as the one originally installed on the pc. I also tried to download Windows 10 using Dell OS Recovery Tool and using my service tag. It also does not work.

Yes, I did remove all USB devices.

When I downloaded Win 10 from Microsoft and installed it, there was a drop down menu at the beginning of install for me to pick the edition.  For my install I always picked Win 10 Pro.  Did you need to pick from a menu too?  If yes did you choose one that matches your original Win 10?  You are correct that Win 10 build (version) has updated from your original one, but the edition (home vs pro) should stay the same.  Which edition of original Win 10 do you have?

This procedure works fine with every dell model I own including my 2006 Optiplex GX620 to My latest Dell purchased in 2019 with windows 10.

USB 2 Optical Drive is required if you do not have an optical drive.  LG - 8x External USB 2.0 Drive
Model:BP50NB40 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-8x-external-usb-2-0-blu-ray-disc-double-layer-dvdrw-cd-rw-disc-rewriter-black/9243009.p?skuId=9243009

WITH All storage devices removed

Buy a new $52 hard drive and put it at Drive 0

https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-Internal-Drive-3-5-Inch/dp/B07H2RR55Q/

sata blue connector.

remove all other storage like M2 or usb or readyboost etc.

Buy a new cmos battery $5

https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Medical-Battery-Security-Carded/dp/B00FX9ILKO/

Buy an OEM system builder DVD. $13

https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-64-bit-reinstall-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350238

Remove all cables and remove cmos battery.

Hold power button and discharge any remaining power.

Put New CMOS Battery IN.

Put New Hard drive IN.

Plug in Power and monitor and Keyboard.

Put OEM DVD into the Drive

Turn on and set F2  secure boot OFF

Set SATA Operation to AHCI

Shutdown.

Turn back on and F12 boot the OEM DVD

Partition and Format the drive

Install windows

Get online and download your chipset and video and audio drivers from the dell site.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/xps-8920-desktop/drivers

Install chipset first while offline

Install audio next while offline

Install OEM intel video next while offline.

reboot.

Go online and do windows updates and driver updates etc.

Been there done that many many times with all kinds of Dell models from 2006 to now.

@redxps630 There was not an option to choose between Win 10 Home and Win 10 Pro when I downloaded from Microsoft.  I also tried Rufus to download Windows 10 Home, which does not work either.

It is possible I had misunderstood the cause of your issue.  The “the installation could not complete on this computer's hardware” error is not due to edition of Windows 10, but a hardware problem.  I have encountered this issue on some Dell optiplex model.  IIRC it was due to my hdd having failed segments.  The hdd was not completely dead but it had enough bad sectors or other problem to stall installation of Windows 10.  I would suggest you remove the hdd and try install on a different hdd or ssd.  In my old Dell I successfully installed Win 10 on the smallest capacity ssd built in (mini sata card), about 16 GB.  It boots like a charm.

@redxps630 I suspected hard drive too. I run the diagnostic tool in Bios(it is called something like Dell Assistant support OS), and all the hardware passed the test including hard drive and memory. So I am not sure what is the problem now.

sometimes bad hdd is not detected by the rudimentary dx test in BIOS.  if you have another HDD or storage device it would be easy to give it a test.  If it encounters same error, you would clear the hdd of guilt.  if error disappears, then the hdd is the culprit.

I would recommend removing both the 16 GB SSD and 1 TB HDD and replacing it with a single 1-2 TB SSD. You should then make sure the SATA operation is AHCI. You should have a UEFI Boot with Secure Boot Enabled. Install Windows 10 directly onto the SSD. This will give you the best performance and SSDs are relatively cheap these days.

Otherwise if you want to use the original drives. Install both drives and set the SATA operation to AHCI. Boot from the Windows Installation Media and then use Diskpart. Clean all partitions on both the SSD and HDD.

https://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/using-diskpart-from-a-windows-10-bootable-usb-to-format-or-wipe-an-internal-drive/ 

Then exit the Windows setup and change the SATA operation to RAID. You should have a UEFI Boot with Secure Boot Enabled. You may need to prepare SATA drivers and load them during the Windows installation.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=2pmt8&oscode=wt64a&productcode=xps-8920-desktop

https://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/windows-10/#loading-storage-controller-sata-drivers