Sounds like a compatibility issue.   I'd go with the 1TB for now that works.  After the full blockchain is downloaded you can copy the nvme later.
Would a USB to NVME be detected and compatible with the 2TB installed into the USB?  This could allow you to copy the data.  If you could mirror the 1TB to 2TB after full download would the mirroring solve the compatibility issue?  Good catch on startup error message.