Wipe Windows OS, install Ubuntu, but have the option to return to Windows

[Niekon]

I want to wipe Windows 8.1 OS that came pre-installed with my laptop. I have created a Recovery USB media.

I want to install Ubuntu as my Host OS for my laptop. Is it possible to completely wipe Windows and install Ubuntu? If I do so, will it be possible to re-install the factory version of Windows 8.1 from the Recovery USB drive, in case I ever want to return to Windows again?

Thank you.

[WAWood]

@Niekon 

Yes -- that is quite possible.  Read the information below about using Macrium Reflect.

I personally prefer to use third-party Backup solutions as they tend to be both more flexible and more reliable than any built-in solutions.

Macrium Reflect (MR) provides a FREE version that can be used to image and restore partitions or entire drives.

What I recommend is the following:
1) Download and install Macrium Reflect (MR) from here: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Run MR and choose the option: "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" to write a full backup to an external drive or USB stick
3) Use the option to create a boot USB stick or CD

My experience is that MR, when using the High Compression option, typically can compress the saved image file to about 60% of the USED space in the OS partition. This means if you have an 80GB OS partition, and 40GB is used, MR only needs about 24GB to store the image file.

I use this all the time and it typically takes less than 15 minutes to do the image backup and about the same time or less to do a restore.

NOW, you have the means to restore a full working system from the external drive or USB stick in only a few minutes.