E6540 - "this device can perform faster...connect it to a super speed usb 3...blah blah"

Regular, run of the mill USB 3.0 disk on keys.

External Hdd's are regular. eg, a self powered Seagate 3 terra backup, Samsung M3 etc.

I am using a powered USB 3 hub. Same result as in usb ports.

Same problem here, except I went one step further.  I downloaded the latest (3.0.2.54) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver here: downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx;DwnldID=22824

Didn't help.

I initially installed Windows 8.1 (hated it), and don't remember getting the notification there.  I may re-install my image and report back my findings.

Does Dell Support monitor these threads?  Can we expect any input from them?  If I can't get 3.0 speeds from any of the ports, it'll be going back.

Hey z0ner,

I'm assuming for the Dell drivers (namely the chipset & USB ones from the Dell support site) you've tried uninstalling them and then reinstalling them?

Up to this point if you've had no success and your 8.1 experiment doesn't work out, have you tried contact Dell support directly?

~Jim

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling both the 8 series chipset and USB 3 chipset drivers with no success.

I just loaded my 8.1 image and even though you DON'T get the notification, the Device Bus Speed is still set to 0x02 (High-Speed) and not Super-Speed.  Good going MS.  Enough people complain about receiving the notification so you remove it in the next OS.

I've tried all four ports with three different USB3.0 sticks.  No cables involved.  It's a shame - I really liked this notebook and wouldn't complain if even one out of the four worked.

Is anyone with this notebook (E6540) running at 3.0 speed?

On a side note, I can't install the latest Intel USB 3 chipset driver because they don't allow Win8 to install it.  I'm stuck with Dell's OEM Intel driver which is a moot point because Intel's direct driver didn't work in Win7 anyway.

As I've written in the original post, the same problem exists on my Win 7 X64.

No point in blaming the Win 8.1 - which is, certainly, a lousy OS.

As for Dell support, have you ever experienced their low, very low, professional level? Our only hope is that a real Dell pro reads this thread and answer it.

You have contaminated registry.  You should not mix generic INTEL drivers with the OEM Dell Drivers.

http://downloads.dell.com/published/pages/latitude-e6540-laptop.html

If you update Bios make sure NO ANTIVIRUS software is installed or running or you can brick the machine.

CHIPSET Drivers are not optional.

Description	Version	Supported OS	Download
Intel(R) Smart Connect Technology Application This package provides Intel(R) Smart Connect Technology Application and is supported on Latitude, OptiPlex, Precision and Inspiron models running the following Windows Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.More details	4.2.41.2633	Windows 7 64-bit Windows 7 32-bit Windows 8 32-bit Windows 8 64-bit WB32A WB64A
Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology Application This package provides Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology Application and is supported on OptiPlex, Precision and Latitude models that are running the following Windows Operating System: Windows 7 and Windows 8.More details	3.0.0.1056	Windows 7 32-bit Windows 7 64-bit Windows 8 32-bit Windows 8 64-bit
Intel(R) Rapid Start Technology Application This package provides Intel Rapid Start Technology Application and is supported on Latitude and Precision models that are running the following Windows Operating System: Windows 8.1.More details	3.0.0.1056	WB64A WB32A
Intel(R) Management Engine Components Installer Application This package provides Intel(R) Management Engine Components Installer Application (for vPro systems) and is supported on Tablet, Latitude, OptiPlex and Precision that are running following Windows operating systems: Windows 8.1 32/64 bit.More details	9.5.14.1724	WB32A WB64A

• Description	Supported OS	Download
  Intel Chipset Device Software Driver This package provides Intel Chipset Device Driver and is supported on OptiPlex, Precision and Latitude series running the following Operating Systems: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012.More details	WB64A Windows 7 32-bit Windows 7 64-bit W12R2 Windows 8 32-bit Windows 8 64-bit WB32A
  O2 Micro OZ777xxx/OZ621XX memory card reader Driver O2 Micro OZ777xxx/OZ621XX memory card reader driver for Precision, OptiPlex, Latitude series running the following Windows Operating Systems: Win 7, Win8 and Win 8.1.More details	Windows 8 32-bit WB32A WB64A Windows 7 32-bit Windows 7 64-bit Windows 8 64-bit
  Intel USB3.0 xHCI Driver This package provides the driver for the 4th Generation Intel Core Processor U-Series Platform I/O and Intel 8 Series/C220 series Chipset Family Products and is supported on Latitude/Precision/OptiPlex systems running Windows 7.More details	Windows 7 64-bit Windows 7 32-bit
  Intel(R) Management Engine Components Installer Driver This package provides Intel(R) Management Engine Components Installer Driver and is supported on OptiPlex, Inspiron Desktop, Precision and Latitude models that are running the following Windows Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.More details	Windows 7 32-bit Windows 7 64-bit Windows 8 32-bit Windows 8 64-bit WB32A WB64A
  O2Micro OZ777xxx/OZ621XX Memory Card Reader Driver This package provides O2Micro OZ777xxx/OZ621XX Memory Card Reader Driver and is supported on Precision and Latitude series running the following Windows Operating Systems: Win 8.1.More details	WB32A WB64A

Good day Community,

Thank you for all the posts and feedback related to this issue.

I found a support document on this topic that says if you disable the WIFI card in the BIOS, you'll only get USB 2.0.

The document also says that there's a BIOS update coming out to resolve this in either December or January.

The Bios rev required to fix this is A10 for the M6800, A11 E7240, E7440 and E6540, and A08 for the E6440.

If your wireless card is not disabled in the BIOS please post back and let me know. I'll see what else I can do.

Thanks Justin, but WiFi has never been disabled, and I have the newest BIOS A12 (11/26/2014).

I always reformat Dell laptops to remove the bloatware, but for curiosity I put back the original image/disk in and sure enough the shipped Win7ProSP1-64 Dell image has the same problem.  To summarize:

USB3 (super-speed) is not working on any of the four ports, under any configuration. 

I've tried:

1. Original Win7ProSP1-64 shipped from Dell.

2. Fresh Win7ProSP1-64 with just the Intel 8 series chipset drivers (08/01/2014) and USB3 driver (6/6/2014) (Intel USB3.0 xHCI Driver).  Both drivers from Dell.

3. Fresh Win7ProSP1-64 with the newest generic Intel USB3.0 xHCI Driver (12/9/2014).

4. Fresh Win81Pro-64 with just the Intel 8 series chipset drivers (08/01/2014).

I'd like confirmation from Dell that any E6540's USB3.0 ports work with USB3.0 speed, and if so, what versions of OS, BIOS, and drivers they're running.  If I have a defective motherboard, I'd like it replaced.

One possibility I didn't explore is that the older version of BIOS that was shipped with this config may have worked.  I didn't discover the slow USBs until after I updated the BIOS to the newest, A12.  I do not wish to downgrade the BIOS unless this is proven.

Thanks Justin, but WiFi has never been disabled, and I have the newest BIOS A12 (11/26/2014).

I always reformat Dell laptops to remove the bloatware, but for curiosity I put back the original image/disk in and sure enough the shipped Win7ProSP1-64 Dell image has the same problem. To summarize:

USB3 (super-speed) is not working on any of the four ports, under any configuration.

I've tried:

1. Original Win7ProSP1-64 shipped from Dell.

2. Fresh Win7ProSP1-64 with just the Intel 8 series chipset drivers (08/01/2014) and USB3 driver (6/6/2014) (Intel USB3.0 xHCI Driver). Both drivers from Dell.

3. Fresh Win7ProSP1-64 with the newest generic Intel USB3.0 xHCI Driver (12/9/2014).

4. Fresh Win81Pro-64 with just the Intel 8 series chipset drivers (08/01/2014).

I'd like confirmation from Dell that any E6540's USB3.0 ports work with USB3.0 speed, and if so, what versions of OS, BIOS, and drivers they're running. If I have a defective motherboard, I'd like it replaced.

One possibility I didn't explore is that the older version of BIOS that was shipped with this config may have worked. I didn't discover the slow USBs until after I updated the BIOS to the newest, A12. I do not wish to downgrade the BIOS unless this is proven.

Right you are, ZONER. You give the exact description of what I did - and it didn't work!

Please refer to what I wrote formerly about the lack of professional know-how of those Dell employees: Take a good look at what that that Justin -C of dell says: "A11 bios for E6550". He does not even mention the subject of this thread - E6540 (A12 current bios). His lack of attention represents Dell's general policy towards their customers.

You write: "I'd like confirmation from Dell that any E6540's USB3.0 ports work with USB3.0 speed, and if so, what versions of OS, BIOS, and drivers they're running. If I have a defective motherboard, I'd like it replaced." Don't be naive - they won't!

Might be a good idea to get rid of the laptop and never buy another Dell product again, (except, of course, as a present for one of your bitter enemies...) 

@Zoner,

Thanks for the feedback.

I didn't notice the A12 BIOS that came out. I was just going by what my document told me then after your feedback, realized there was no A11 for E6540 and that A12 was on the website now.

Due to the issue happening in multiple operating systems and the symptoms being similar to what is in my document, I'm bringing this up with engineering and will be in touch.

Once I hear back from them we can make a decision to replace the motherboard, or not.

nidany, let's give Justin a chance to contact engineering.  We can't expect every Dell employee to have an eidetic memory in regards to every product line, and he was only one BIOS version off anyway.

I'm very eager to hear his response.

Happy Holidays to the both of you.

When you write "I didn't notice the A12 BIOS that came out. I was just going by what my document told me then after your feedback, realized there was no A11 for E6540 and that A12 was on the website now.", it clearly shows that my former post was, regrettably, true.