office 2007 configuration

Whenever I start an Office 2007 program under Vista Build 5384, the Office program goes through a configuration routine before opening. This does not happen if I am starting an Office 2003 program.
Is this normal? Can it be avoided? Am I missing something obvious?

Whenever I start an Office 2007 program under Vista build 5384, the program goes through a configuration routine before starting.
This does not happen when opening an Office 2003 program.
Can this be avoided? Am I missing something obvious?