Microsoft has released a critical update for Windows machines running processors from Intel’s Core 2 and Xeon 3000/5000 families.

The update is recommended for 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003, along with the 32-bit versions of Windows XP.

Microsoft describes the patch as “a microcode reliability update is available that improves the reliability of systems that use Intel processors.”

According to the Inquirer, the problem also affects Core 2-based systems not running Windows, and motherboard manufacturers are working to release urgent BIOS updates that refresh the microcode versions too.

Details on what the actual problem is are pretty light at the moment, but the Inquirer has been assured that there will be no product recall and that the problem - whatever it is - is fixable via either BIOS or Windows updates.

You can grab the patch from Microsoft’s support site.

[Copied by]