I want to refresh my Windows 8.1 computer. It’s just had all sorts of problems with multiple pieces of software and I can’t figure it out, so I want to try this. I know it will get rid of Avast (which is what I want so I can cleanly reinstall everything). I know you have to disable it before a system restore, is it the same with Windows refresh? Do I just have to disable the shields with the icon? Anything else I need to know about the process? Thanks in advance!
If you want to refresh your Windows, I will just suggest you backup your avast! settings (into Settings there is an option to do so) and refresh your Windows. Then, reinstall avast! and restore your settings 
Thanks! But do I need to do anything to Avast before that to ensure Windows refreshes properly and actually uninstalls Avast?
Just a caution from Microsoft:
If you upgraded your PC from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and your PC has a Windows 8 recovery partition, refreshing your PC will restore Windows 8. You’ll need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after the refresh has finished.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc
Nope. Just backup your settings as Tech said earlier. You want to download avast VPS files since it will take time for avast to update to the latest VPS versions. Then backup those too.
get it from here http://www.avast.com/en-ph/download-update and select the avast version of your computer.
Written by a Microsoft MVP. Pay close attention to his cautions regarding 3rd-party programs:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html
Also, see his appropriate comment here as well:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a-2.html#post153856
A “repair install” in W7 leaves all your old data AND previously installed programs.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/243190/how_to_repair_a_corrupt_windows_7_installation.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
Windows 8 Refresh does not keep your previously installed programs like W7 repair install does…MS’s theory on why…
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/01/04/refresh-and-reset-your-pc.aspx
However, here is way…
How to Create a Custom Recovery Image to Use to Refresh Windows 8 and 8.1
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3610-refresh-windows-8-create-use-custom-recovery-image.html
However, for “Avast” I’d still do what Tech suggested.
A "repair install" in W7 leaves all your old data AND previously installed programs.
Also available in Win 8.1.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26095-repair-install-windows-8-a.html