WHQL

When you download a GPU or audio driver, you may notice a label like “WHQL Certified” on the manufacturer's page. This means the driver package passed Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing program, which puts drivers through a standardized battery of stability and compatibility checks before Microsoft digitally signs them. Windows can be configured to block unsigned drivers entirely, so WHQL status matters in corporate environments and on Secure Boot systems. If a freshly installed driver causes random restarts, checking whether it carries a valid WHQL signature—visible under the Driver Details tab in Device Manager—is a sensible first step before rolling back.