I got an answer! Following Paul's link took me to another forum where this is being discussed and a chap named Chanklin just posted a new registry entry there that worked for me!

The thread (Answer is on page 2 toward the end): http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/o...7-1f363f286f93

Registry entry is: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\15.0\ ClickToRun\Updates
set the value to 0.

Ah, what a relief it is!