Surface tablet

My dad gave me his Surface (I think it's 1st generation) & it has Windows 8.1 on it. I want to do a Factory Reset so I can truly make it mine.
I am planning to use a Local Account & know I won't have access to OneDrive (not a big deal for me) but what else do I miss out on?
When I do the Factory Reset, will it reset using 8.1 & do I need a Product Key?

I sent an email to a few online computing magazines, but only 1 has emailed me back so far & the person was not much help.

Here's a few tutorials for you to look over,

Local account, the differences are listed in the blue box at the top,

Local Account - Switch to in Windows 8

This will help you with the product key,

Product Key - Find for Windows 8

Here's a couple options for reset or refresh,

Reset Windows 8

Refresh Windows 8

In case you need to get a fresh image,

Surface Recovery Image - Download from Microsoft

If it came with 8 and upgraded to 8.1 I would guess it will reset to 8 if using the built in feature.

You might have the RT version on that so you will have to follow those options.

I think if you have any specific questions you would be better asking them here,

Windows 8 Forums

Or in the tutorials I linked.

derekimo: You're correct; I looked at the PC Info & for Edition it does state Windows RT 8.1.

Thank you for all the links, I'll look them over when I can.

After some reading & exploring, I did the Factory Reset & everything went smoothly. The tablet was reset using 8.1 & no Product/ID Key was needed. I did make a Microsoft Account, because from what I can tell, I cannot download from the Store w/o one.
So the Microsoft Account is setup as Administrator & will seldom be used (I don't like using an Administrator Account for daily use). I did make a Standard Account which is also the Local Account & this seems to be working just fine.

But I do have another question: while using my Standard Local Account & searching the Store, if I try to install any of the Apps, I get the message screen below. If I put in my password, would my Standard Local Account become a Microsoft Account or will I then be given the choice to use the Microsoft Account I already have?

Good news! Glad you got it sorted.

As for the store, you can use the "Sign in to each app separately instead", that will keep you in your local account.

See number 6 here,

Windows Store - Sign in with Different Microsoft Account in Windows 8