Is Outlook 2007 dependent on Outlook Express

Hello,

I've been using my computer for months with no problems (and the email
client I use is Outlook 2007 - not Express). Recently, though, Outlook
Express has reared its ugly head - constantly giving me a dialog box asking
me if I want to back up old email items. I don't understand where this comes
from, since I haven't been using this application and this behavior is
something that seems to have started out of the blue, on its own.

I've run virus and antispyware scans (from like 3 different programs for it)
and come up clean. The best option I can see is just to uninstall Outlook
Express and be done with it. So, I went online and found an article that
tells you how to uninstall it (fairly technical, but I'm confident I could
pull it off). FYI - here is the link to that article:
http://www.tweakxp.com/article37318.aspx .

Ok, so I get to looking at the article (and I've already been wondering on
my own if doing this would mess up Outllook 2007 somehow) and theres a
rererence in there to a Microsoft Knowledge Base article entitled: "Why
Outlook 2000 Requires Outlook Express." So now I'm really thinking I should
investigate this a little bit more before I go changing things.

What I have on my computer is Windows XP, Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5512
(xpsp.080413-2105) and Outlook 2007 (which came as part of Office 2007). If
it is possible, I would still like to get rid of Outlook Express altogether
and just use Outlook 2007. Does anyone have any information that would help
me?

Thanks so much:
Jake