E6420 Owner's Thread

Just for kicks, I tried booting a Windows 7 disk using F12... and yeah, it doesn't work >_<.

If I press F12 with a Windows 7 DVD in the drive, it actually puts a "UEFI Boot" entry with the name of my ODD between the "Legacy Boot" and BIOS/Diagnostics section. Picking CD/DVD drive under Legacy Boot gives that boot failure message. Picking the ODD under the UEFI Boot entry will let it boot from the ODD.

I've been able to boot linux from USB keys and I think that showed up under Legacy Boot. Unless the fact that I'm set to Intel RAID has anything to do with it, this looks like a firmware bug.

For reference, I'm using A04.

 

Weird, are these using EFI now?

 

Well, if it wasn't, I'm not sure how they loaded the OS for the initial install.

The even more odd part is my BIOS has always been set up for Legacy Boot.

 

I'm looking to buy an E6420 from the outlet - but not if I'll have to replace it 3 times. Have the various problems mentioned in this thread been fixed?

1. Does the chassis pop open?
2. Does moving windows around on the screen result in a grainy picture?
3. Do they overheat (before re-applying thermal grease to CPU/GPU)?

 

I didn't buy mine from outlet, but:

1. No, I don't have the corner popping problem, though you'll want to watch for that if you're buying from outlet.

2. Not that I can see, but I have the 1600x900 panel. Not sure if the 1366x768 one has that.

3. I have not experienced an overheat, but I have not replaced/removed the heatsink nor have I had the main board replaced. If the pads are broken, you need to replace them and the correct thickness pads should be used.

 

Would you happen to have or could look up the dell part number for the high capacity heat sink that comes OEM on the quad core machines.

Or anyone with a factory quad core machine use your service tag and look up the part number.

I would like to obtain one for my installed qm2720.

 

Just got mine from the outlet as a refurb a few days back (any help on a non glare screen guard anyone????)

1. no chassis pop
2. Clear display (low res version with touch)
3. No overheating. 2720qm 8 gb ram, ssd, intel 4200... Running full out gets warm but fan keeps in check.

 

Can one of the owners here tell me what size the optical drive has, is it 12,7mm or 9,7mm high? I'm thinking of getting an E5420 actually, am assuming the case size is the same, and would like to swap out the optical drive for a BRD I already have, but want to know if it'll fit...

 

Anyone have info on 3-cell bay battery and USB-3 bay module? Trying to find them on Dell's US site and failing.

 

The ODD on mine is a 9.5mm. It makes it difficult to find third-party units.