My sisters laptop came with 8.0 and sadly she downloaded a bunch of spyware so I am using the factory reset option to wipe. However I know this will revert me back to 8.0. Is there a way, that after I upgrade it to 8.1 that I can update the factory win 8 image to include 8.1 and all updates?

I'm not referring to any kind of custom HP factory reset, just the factory reset/refresh option built into windows 8.

It depends upon the recovery image -if it has all the Windows 8.1 pre-requisite updates then it wouldn't be a problem.

But if you don't have then go to windows update and run all the critical Windows Updates available, and after the pre-requisite update is installed, the Windows 8.1 should show up in the Windows Store.

You may do this manually also :

If youre running Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 and  you  dont have the update yet, you can manually check for and install the update by following these steps:

1. Make sure your PC is plugged in and connected to the Internet using a non-metered connection. Dont disconnect, unplug, or turn off your PC while the update is being installed.

2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
   (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

3. Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Windows Update.

4. Tap or click Check now.

5. If updates are found, tap or click View details.

6. In the list of updates, select the update containing  KB 2919355, and then tap or click Install.

   If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.

7. After the installation is complete, restart your PC and sign in.

Note

• If you dont see KB 2919355 in the list of available updates, you might be missing one or more required updates. Follow the previous steps to check for updates, install all important updates, particularly KB 2919442, restart your PC, and then check for KB 2919355 again.

Ref:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-8/install-latest-update-windows-8-1

Hello,

Open an elevated CMD prompt

Run recimg /?

See if this is what you are looking to create and save.

recimg only seems to apply if you choose the option "Refresh your PC without affecting your files"

I'm interested in "Reset your PC and start".

I don't care that I would have to reinstall certain desktop applications. I really am interested in basically a reformat to delete everything and refresh windows. If I revert to 8.0 the process of downloading updates and upgrading to 8.1 update 1 takes a really long time compared to if I had an ISO of 8.1

I'm really more interested in this http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj979349(v=winembedded.81).aspx

How can I apply that information to the "reset your pc and start"? One reason I'm pretty sure I can't just make my own ISO for standard offline installation is that the 8.0 keys don't (or at least they didn't) work with 8.1 for whatever silly reason they decided.

Hello ZenMasta,

What is your current situation?

Do you have a Windows 8.1 image backup?
If not, it is recommended to create one the next time, so we can use the backup image to store the Windows 8.1 system.
We could go to Control Panel\System and Security\File History and click the System Image Backup.

Additionally, we could restore the PC to an earlier point in time. For more information, please refer to the following article.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

If you want to use the DISM command to add packages offline, please take a look at the following article.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824838.aspx

And we need to capture the Windows image (.wim) file firstly. For more information, please refer to the following article.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825041.aspx

Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN

If not, it is recommended to create one the next time, so we can use the backup image to store the Windows 8.1 system.

We could go to Control Panel\System and Security\File History and click the System Image Backup.

I  have Windows 8.1 and my control panel doesn't have System and Security?  I have Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600].