Computers/Latitude E5540

We own a set of 11 Dell Latitude E5540 laptops.

They were purchased from ComputerCorps in Carson City on 14 September 2023 for $1250: nominally 10 for $125 each, with an extra laptop with a missing battery thrown in free of charge.

Manufacturer	Dell
Model	Latitude E5540
Manufactured	8 December 2014
RAM	4 GB DDR3L 1600 1x 4 GB SODIMM, 1 slot open
CPU	Intel Core i3-4030U 1.9 GHz 2 cores
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4600
Storage	64 GB SSD
Optical	DVD+/-RW
Ports	HDMI (up to 3200x2000@60Hz) VGA 2x USB 3.0 type A 2x USB 2.0 type A 10/100/1000 Ethernet 3.5mm TRRS Headphone + Microphone SD Card
Display	15.6", 1366x768, touch
Size	14.92 x 9.86 x 1.32 in
Weight	6.13 lbs

Firmware

While the Dell logo screen is displayed during boot:

• Press F2 to enter the setup utility
• Press F12 for a one-time boot menu

Firmware Update

We should periodically check the Dell support site for new BIOS updates. We're currently using version A24 from 4 December 2019.

To update the BIOS without Windows:

1. Format a USB flash drive with a FAT32 file system
2. Download the Windows EXE for the BIOS update from Dell and put it on the flashdrive
3. Reboot the laptop, and on the Dell logo splash screen, press F12 to get to the boot menu
4. Select "BIOS Flash Update" from the boot menu
5. Click the "..." button to the right of "BIOS update file" and choose the EXE file
6. Click "Begin Flash Update"

Firmware Setup

These settings are recorded for BIOS version A24. Press F2 at the boot logo screen to enter setup.

1. Press the "Load Defaults" button
2. General
   1. Boot Sequence
      1. Set "Boot List Option" to "UEFI"
      2. Use the "Delete Boot Option" button to remove any options other than the primary OS
      3. Press the "Apply" button
   2. Advanced Boot Options: uncheck "Enable Legacy Option ROMs"
3. System Configuration
   1. Integrated NIC: set radio group to "Enabled"
   2. Parallel Port: set radio group to "Disabled"
   3. Serial Port: set radio group to "Disabled"
   4. SATA Operation: set radio group to "AHCI"
   5. Miscellaneous Devices
      1. Uncheck "Enable ExpressCard"
      2. Uncheck "Enable Hard Drive Free Fall Protection"
4. Security
   1. Admin Password: set the admin password
   2. Password Change: uncheck "Allow Non-Admin Password Changes"
5. Power Management
   1. Primary Battery Charge Configuration: set radio group to "Primarily AC Use"
6. POST Behavior
   1. Fastboot: set radio group to "Minimal"

Units

44BYP12 "Kalimba" 4021109

Touchscreen Issue

This computer has a bad touchscreen – it sometimes gets into a state where it registers frequent false touch events in the same location. Moving the screen hinge can cause or resolve the issue. The touchscreen can't be disabled in the BIOS, so it has been disabled in Linux by creating /etc/udev/rules.d/95-disable-touchscreen.rules with the contents

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="04f3", ATTR{idProduct}=="0251", ACTION=="add", ATTR{authorized}="0"

History

• 2026-10-06 diagnosed mouse issue as bad touchscreen, disabled touchscreen with udev, returned to service --Sammich
• 2025-10-30 computer is receiving random mouse inputs with nothing connected, pulled from service --Elane