To create a recovery drive for Windows 8.1
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/create-usb-recovery-drive
A 32GB stick is recommended, and it needs to either be a new one or one that you don't mind wiping of existing data
Methyl, I don't have StartIsBack (I don't think) I did have Pokki, which seemed to just "appear" and which I found completely useless (I have no desire to reinstate the Windows Start button, which I can't really see is needed) So I uninstalled it.
The updates worked fine as far as I could see, although they did blat my (unsupported) WinMail program which I had to re-install. However I suspect that the problem happened after the first cold re-start