I am not sure in Win8 as they completely changed, but previously if you typed in HELP or SEARCH field Windows Backup, there is usually a full backup you can do, usually by the included maker's software (Dell, ASUS, etc.). Otherwise no, you can't backup just the OS with 'all the patches', because there will always be more patches between the date of your last backup and when things 'go wrong'. I would suggest running incrementing backups. Since your running W8 (and 8.1 is in the pipe fo release) I would highly suggest A) get a external Hard Drive as big as your computer, and see about a bundled 'backup software' that you can install to doa full, then regular incremental backups