Windows Update installed a recent update that does this (don't ask me how or why).  Google the desktop message for a solution.

You will have to disable Windows Update.

Hello lightstar.  Appreciate help (been off line awhile  (sad)  ctrl panel not have this (or similar) option.      I haven't entered product key.  the four choices that come up include typing in the p key, but when I chose that option - system does nothing. 

related question:  my windows is on the c drive.  most other things are on a separate (D:) physical drive.  If I get a new system - how easy/dif is it to move the d drive to the new pc, I mean related to the programs / steam etc working on new PC with dif windows?  Toms hardware doesn't have info on this. 

unfortunately.. (afaik) you can't just move programs per se.. you'll have to reinstall them (if they are installed, as opposed to being portable)

for steam.. you'll have to reinstall the steam client itself.. and then tell it where your existing library is... then it probably wouldn't re-d/l everything.. but pretty sure it'll verify each game when you load them as if it's the first run.. i would put steam client itself on your c drive (especially if it's ssd) but keep the games and other stuff on d...  caveat... you might want to reset the settings for the games..