Microsoft Windows XP and later versions include Windows Driver Protection. Windows Driver Protection prevents the installation of drivers known to cause instabilities when installed under Windows XP. Windows XP includes a list of such drivers, known as the "driver protection list," and the list is checked at the following times:

• During installation of Windows XP
• Each time the system is rebooted
• Each time a device or application is installed

Whenever a system connects to the Windows Update driver publishing Web site, the system's driver protection list is updated. If a driver on the list was previously installed, the driver will be disabled and the user will be told how to obtain a new driver.

The decision to add drivers to the driver protection list is based on feedback from end users about problems that can be reproduced by Microsoft.