Although I have seen similar threads on the forum, they all seem to address a different scenario.
My environment is as follows:
Intel MotherBoard with I07 max processor
64GB RAM
512 GB SSD Boot drive on which Windows 8.1 was installed as first and only O/S. It was validated
4TB HDD on which User directory and programs installed (those which permit drive selection in startup)
4TB data drive.
Machine was built from scratch with Win 8.1 Pro plus Media Center
Office 2013 Pro Plus was installed and validated
Machine is running in an MS AD Domain whose PDC is running on Win Server 2008 R2
User is a member of Enterpise and Domain Admin group
HERE'S THE PROBLEM,
Any Office 2013 Pro Plus application (Not Just Oulook) goes through the configuration step EACH time it is launched.