Signed drivers are those that have been tested for in the Windows Hardware Quality Labs for compatibility with Windows. When you install a driver Windows XP will check to see if it has been signed and alert you if it has not been.

In some cases, unsigned drivers may not cause any problems on a computer. However, you can never be sure because they have not been tested. If you want to err on the side of caution, you can configure Windows XP to prevent the installation of unsigned drivers.

To accomplish this, open the System applet within the Control Panel. From the Hardware tab, select the Driver Signing button. Select the Block-Never install unsigned driver software option. Also verify that the Make this action the system default option at the bottom of the dialog box is selected. Click OK to close the Driver Signing Options dialog box. Click OK to close the System Properties dialog box. Users will not longer be permitted to install drivers that have not been signed.

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