SQL installation fails with "Could not find the Database Engine startup handle". Tried almost all suggestions from internet, but no luck I am trying to install a new standalone SQL instance. It fails with

Could not find the Database Engine startup handle.
I am trying to install SQL server 2019 Express edition in windows 10 Home OS.

I have tried:

Uninstalling all instances, deleting all files and changing the account to &quot;Local System&quot; while installing. I even reset windows to factory settings . Still am getting same error.

I have exited installation wizard and then starting the SQL service from configuration manager. It either fails or stops immediately after starting.
The event log contains the following error:
FileMgr::StartLogFiles
2(The system cannot find the file specified.)
d:\dbs\sh\s19s\0924_133725\cmd\2\obj\x64retail\sql\mkmastr\databases\mkmastr.proj\modellog.ldf

But there is no D drive in my laptop at all


I have also given full control to local system, administrator, users group to the installation folder.
Answering my own question.
Note: It is not a solution. It is not applicable to any professional environment.
I did a PC factory reset. Deleting all personal apps and files. Then installed it. It installed without any problem. Earlier, I reset the pc but did not remove the files. The installation of SQL had still failed.
My suspicion is that there was some problem with the log on account in my system. But I still do not know the root cause