How to install Android on BQ Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition?

I've been amongst the first users of BQ's Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition tablet and I'd been waiting for a Ubuntu tablet for 4+ years. Now after playing around a lot my final rating for this device + OS is not a positive one. Amongst the most annoying weak points for me are:

• no multi user ability
• not a real Ubuntu Linux inside but still a tuned Android only, hence missing a lot of Linux tools, e.g. openSSH
• Bluetooth does not usefully work
• really horrible and sloppy touch experience even after OS update
• almost useless app landscape: To fill the app store, an estimated 99% off all 'apps' are nothing but (mobile) websites in headless browsers from solo developers who call their apps a test or 'beta'
• Even standard tablet features such as serving as a music player with the Ubuntu native player is a farce...

I apologize for my rant and happily accept any down ratings for being off-topic. But hopefully, I'll get eventually a useful device with a modern state-of-the-art operation system:

Now, to my regret but to keep myself from getting even more grey hairs:

How can I completely remove Ubuntu from the M10 tablet and replace it with a fresh Android installation?

Solution 1:

This very question was asked and answered on the BQ support forum:

http://www.mibqyyo.com/comunidad/discussion/75471/is-there-any-guidance-i-can-replace-the-ubuntu-with-android-for-m10-fhd/

First you need to download the appropriate firmware:

FHD: http://www.mibqyyo.com/en-download/categorias/aquaris-m10-fhd/

HD: http://www.mibqyyo.com/en-download/categorias/aquaris-m10-hd/

Then, you can find instructions for installing Android here:

http://www.mibqyyo.com/en-articles/2015/09/16/ubuntu-android-installation-process-for-bq-aquaris-e4-5-and-e5/

BQ suggests you need the updated flash tool: https://storage.googleapis.com/otas/2015/Tablets/Freezer%20FHD/Ubuntu/SP_Flash_Tool_exe_Linux_v5.1612.00.100.zip

Note that these instructions are not specifically for M10, but they are the instructions suggested by BQ tech support on the BQ support forum linked to at the top of this answer. Several users there report success using this method.

Discaimer: On the same forum, BQ support say you will not void your warranty by following the instructions, but you should check this yourself if you are worried about such things. Finally, I have not tried it myself and thus cannot vouch for the method's effectiveness.