Run msconfig and check if you have anything out of the ordinary running on startup. Have you run a virus scan?
Some thing is definitely wanting you to login to your Google account. Do you have Google Desktop installed? Installed any kind of Google Plus client that may or may not exist?
It looks like the Gmail notifier to me, have you installed it? It's only function is to alert you to new emails, but you have to be logged in. Worth double checking to see whether it is installed in case someone is fishing.
it did not show ill effects in XP & the toolbar has Hot/Yahoo/Aol & Gmails on it for easey access, but do not inform if incoming mail. The Temp. shown of N.York not much good to me in UK.