I think this is all part of their new live messenger, office etc that you installed via an update a couple of weeks ago. Basically, uninstall the windows live stuff and you're all good again

I hate all this live bollocks and want to access stuff when I want to. The only pain is that it constantly says that you need to install the update but I can live with it.
edit = it is called Windows Live essentials. Go to your uninstall part of windows and select windows live essentials 2011 to uninstall. It should get rid of it.