Dell Latitude E6420 Driver List for Windows 7

Whenever I get a new computer, the first thing I do is format the hard drive to remove all the manufacturer bloatware and then install the operating system of my choice. In this case, I chose Windows 7 Professional x64 and I found all the drivers you need to get rid of those yellow exclamation marks in the Device Manager for the E6420. Dell does a very nice job of organizing the downloads based on laptop model, operating system, and category, but they don’t tell you which ones you actually need.

If you just installed Windows 7 x64 on a Dell Latitude E6420, these are devices missing drivers in Device Manager (Start -> Type in: devmgmt.msc):

Broadcom USH
Ethernet Controller  
Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250  
Mass Storage Controller
Network Controller
PCI Serial Port
PCI Simple Communications Controller  
SM Bus Controller  
Unknown Device

This list is probably very close to yours depending if you bought the WiMAX card or other options. You then need to download these from support.dell.com:

Windows 7 64-bit for E6420: Checked on 1/12/2012

• Chipset: Intel_Chipset-Software-Insta_A04_R304291.exe - PCI Simple Communications Controller, SM Bus Controller
  
• Input: DELL_MULTI-TOUCH-TOUCHPAD_A10_R315893.exe - Enables better touchpad movement on reboot
  
• Network: Intel_825xx-Gigabit-Platform_A02_R313802.exe - Ethernet Controller
  
• Network: NIC_DRVR_WIN_R292654.EXE - Network Controller
  
• Video: Intel_multi-device_A09_R307994.exe - Fixes resolution on reboot
  
• Security: Dell-Driver: Dell_ControlVault_A08_R308494.exe - Broadcom USH (Install the Credential Vault USB Driver)
  
• Network: Intel-Driver: NIC_DRVR_WIN_R289732.EXE - Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250
  
• Drivers for OS Deployment: O2Micro-_OZ600XXX-Memory-Car_A01_R300787.exe - Mass Storage Controller
  
• Application: ST-MICROELECTRONICS_FREE-FAL_A10_R309372.exe - Unknown Device

Windows 7 32-bit for E6420: Checked on 1/12/2012

• BIOS: E6420A08.exe - Upgrades BIOS to revision 8
• Chipset: Intel_Unified-AMT-7-Manageme_A02_R311171.exe - PCI Serial Port

The above is shorthand so I remember where to find each one. I also only install the drivers if possible (no applications). I only unpack the Wireless Network Controller and manually install the driver in Device Manager because I want Windows to manage my wireless networks. My goal is to install the least amount of software to keep my boot times quick and my taskbar icons to a minimum. Once you’ve installed everything, the total number of process will be under 50 if you can keep the number of processes under 50, you are in GREAT shape. I bet your laptop before a clean operating system was over 70 processes and counting.

I also install the chipset first and the BIOS last. I rarely reboot between driver installs because I’ve never run into any problems so suppress all reboots until the BIOS update. If you are a gamer, I would suggest downloading the latest graphics driver from nVidia, Intel, or their manufacturer because laptop vendors tend to fall behind the latest version of drivers.