The Windows 10 x64 kernel is a port of the Windows NT kernel designed to run in 64-bit long mode. This allows for kernel-mode components, such as device drivers and system services, to utilize the expanded memory space. Crucially, Windows 10 enforces a strict requirement that all kernel-mode drivers be digitally signed and 64-bit compatible. This mandate significantly enhances system stability, as poorly written 32-bit kernel drivers were a frequent cause of the "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) crashes in previous Windows versions.