Dell Precision M4400 Windows 8.1 upgrade

Question

I've been trying to upgrade my Dell Precision M4400 laptop to Windows 8.1 for hours now, with no success.
The installation completes, but right after loading the license agreement, the computer crashes with the infamous VIDEO_TDR error.
I had this problem years ago when I upgraded to Windows 7, and again with Windows 8.0. But I've always been able to at least boot to the desktop so I can turn off NVidia's lousy Powermizer "feature". With Windows 8.1, there's just no way for me to get that far. The laptop crashes, reboots, reverts back to Windows 8.0; leaving me annoyed, hopeless, and stuck trying again.
The VIDEO_TDR error has been a problem for several M4400 users for a while now; Dell needs to stop giving us to proverbial middle finger, and do something about it. After all, this was an expensive unit, and still has plenty of life left in it.
While I wait for them to get their act together. does anybody know how I can get Windows 8.1 into safe mode during the install process? (I tried holding shift and striking the F8 key during boot, but it just ignores me and continues the setup process)

Answer 1

I ran into the same issue today when upgrading from Windows 8.0 Pro to Windows 8.1 Pro.
Here is how I managed to get through the upgrade successfully, maybe the description helps others:
On the old OS (Windows 8) open Windows Explorer and go to options
Enable all options to see hidden and system files
Keep Windows Explorer open
Open an elevated command prompt and run the following command:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
This enables the legacy F8 boot option in case the VGA boot has to be enforced later on in the process
Start the OS upgrade process from the Microsoft Store
When being prompted to restart the computer DO NOT restart
Change to the Windows Explorer Window and find a folder called "$Windows.~BT" which contains the Windows 8.1 setup files
Within that folder navigate to the "DUDownload" folder and find the "DUDriverUpdates": C:\$Windows.~BT\DUDownload\DUDriverUpdates
Within that folder delete the compressed file and the GUID name folder
The contains the latest nVidia driver that causes the blue screen
Complete the restart as requested by the Windows upgrade routine
Windows 8.1 will install with standard VGA support only
Once completed log on and download the "Powermizer" tool from here:
http://www.box.net/shared/v7jpoateoq
Download the latest Windows 8.1 drivers from the nVidia web site for the 9600M GT card
Install the drivers (I only installed the core drivers and no add on software from offered by the setup)
Run the "Powermizer" tool from an elevated command prompt and disable the power saving optionRestart the machine immediately when suggested by the "Powermizer"
If the machine crashes just restart, log on and run the too again from an elevated command prompt again
If it continues to crash force a "low resolution" boot by hitting F8 at the beginning of the boot phase and run the tool after having booted with the VGA driver
I tested full HD (1080p) video playback in battery and AC mode as well as resuming from sleep without any issues.
Thanks to the ones that posted here I was able to get this issue solved:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3519/t/19448813.aspx