Apoint\apntex.exe now visible, not hidden

Realizing this is trivial; but it's driving me nuts anyway!

 

Running XP SP2, MCE.  About a year or so into my Insprion 6000's life, a DOS program, C:\program files\apoint\apntex.exe started running VISIBLY on bootup.

 

I know this program has something to do with the ALPS touchpad so I hesitate to try removing it, but I usually end up closing it, and doing so doesn't seem to have any ill effect.

 

I figure this may have always been there, but perhaps used to run hidden or something?

 

SO, A) do I need it at all?  and B) if so, how do I make it run invisibly in the background again, like I'm presuming it used to?

 

Thanks!!