Microsoft to patch Windows and Office next week

Microsoft has announced it will release four patches for its Windows operating systems and two for its Office application suite next Tuesday.

Windows 200, XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008 will all be covered by the patches, although there are none for Windows 7, unlike the last patch Tuesday release.

The two Office patches cover Word and Excel and are required by both the PC and Mac versions.

Three of the patches are rated as critical, all for Windows, and three are described as important. Four of the patches will require a system restart.

“Customers should plan a restart for the Windows bulletins,” said Jerry Bryant, security program manager for Microsoft Security Response Center in his blog.

“The Office bulletins may not require a restart if the components being updated are not in use."