Microsoft Driver TetherXP.inf Review for Windows 10
If you only need to transfer files or sync data temporarily, installing an unsigned driver on your main OS is a security risk.
Purpose: It is a setup information file (INF) that matches specific hardware IDs of mobile devices to the generic RNDIS network adapter drivers already present in Windows.
Missing Device IDs: If your specific phone is not recognized, users often have to manually edit the .inf file to add their device's specific Hardware ID (VID/PID).
Driver Components: The file typically references system drivers such as usb8023m.sys and rndismpm.sys. Usage on Windows 10
tetherxp.inf a Virus or Malware?Generally, no – it is a legitimate Microsoft file from the Windows XP era. However, malware sometimes reuses old driver names to hide. If you find tetherxp.inf outside of a driver package you deliberately downloaded, or in a suspicious location (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\Downloads or Temp), scan it with Windows Defender or VirusTotal.
The "microsoft driver tetherxp.inf windows 10" query is often a search for a solution to a modern problem using an old naming convention. Windows 10 has the necessary tools built-in to handle tethering; you simply need to point the operating system to the "Remote NDIS Compatible Device" driver within the internal Microsoft driver library to restore your internet connection.
The process required a "hacky" workaround that became a staple of tech forums:
Right-click the problematic device and select Update driver. Choose Browse my computer for drivers.