It's great that you found a potential solution for your firewall issue and considered using the "refresh" option on your PC without losing your installed software. This approach can indeed be helpful in scenarios where you want to retain your files and programs but reset certain system settings.
The article you shared from ExtremeTech provides guidance on how to reinstall Windows 8 without losing your files and programs. This process can be beneficial in restoring your system without impacting your data or applications.
While it may be too late for your current situation, keeping this information in mind for the future is a good idea. Having a backup plan to revert to a stable system state can be crucial in case of any unforeseen...