Creating a recovery image for 8.1 after a problem

Hi,
Not knowing exactly how Windows uses an image when doing a refresh, I'm looking for some advice...

My father's Windows 8.1 installation has a completely messed up App Store. Nothing installs or updates any more, etc etc
(And I'm here after trying every conceivable suggestion, from making sure of the time (trivial) to checking permissions to deleting cache files & checking registry settings etc) - so a refresh is my last resort.

As Murphy's Law dictates, he reported all this to me only after a few months, which meant that my carefully planned 2-generation image backups were already compromised.
And yes, like an idiot I'd not made a refresh image after the 8.1 App store upgrade, thinking the image backups would be enough.
So...
1. If I create a rec image now, with the App Store damaged, will a refresh just bring it back intact (ie. messed up) ? or does a refresh actually rebuild structures like that?

... if that's not a go-er ...

2. Is it possible to download the Win 8.1 iso with a Windows 8 product key? To use for the refresh?

Any suggestions would be most welcome.
Cheers

See Brink's tutorial here: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Option One.

If you have never tampered with the refresh image or the recovery partition, you should be able to refresh to the original state out of the box. No separate iso required.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

Ztruker said:

See Brink's tutorial here: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

Option One.

Click to expand...

Ztruker: Thanks - I did see that tutorial but was not sure that the Upgrade iso would have all the files required for an 8.1 refresh. You think it will be okay?

whs said:

If you have never tampered with the refresh image or the recovery partition, you should be able to refresh to the original state out of the box. No separate iso required.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

Click to expand...

whs: The 8.1 upgrade was online (through the App Store) - so the only hard media I have is the Windows 8 dvd. Not sure that will help for an 8.1 refresh... (?)

Your system will refresh to Win8 - both from the recovery partition or the DVD. But then can get 8.1 again. It's a bit clumsy, but would work. If you use a 8.1 DVD and then have to fight the activation problem, that's no fun either.

Quote from this post:

If you have an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled and you updated to Windows 8.1, then when you refresh or reset Windows, it will reinstall Windows 8 from hard drive recovery partition (recovery image location) or from the recovery USB flash drive. Afterwards, you will need to update to Windows 8.1 via the Store again.

Click to expand...

If you don't have an OEM PC that came with Windows 8 preinstalled and you updated Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, then when you refresh or reset Windows, it will reinstall Windows 8.1, but only if you have Windows 8.1 USB/DVD installation media.

Click to expand...