[Android General] rabsmd:
So I did what I wanted to on my 4034D, here are a few notes:

I didn't knew about SP Flash Tool and preloader stuff on MediaTek SOC, but this tool is all one need. It looks like a leaked dev tool, I couldn't find an official source. The closest seems to be mtk2000.ucoz.ru (even have some source code).

I used v5.1620 Linux build with default DA (download agent).

First I did a "readback" (read from device flash) of the preloader and user EMMC from 0x0 to 0xEC000000 (dumped the whole EMMC at once).

The partition layout and scatter file from TCL/Alcatel "Mobile Update" tool didn't totally match: an unknown partition was added, 'system' is smaller, 'userdata' is bigger...

Had to fix that so I could download 'system' (from the computer to the device) without having a "PMT" error: App Exception! (PMT changed for the ROM; it must be downloaded.)

Note: the scatter file is just a kind of "security" to double check what the user is doing, but it seems possible to do operations without a scatter file by using the command line (there is an example operation file provided).

I dumped only 'system', then mounted it, deleted many stuff, and flashed it. Then I like better to boot to recovery to reset 'cache' and 'userdata'.

What I removed: first it was mostly for "unremovable" 'com.facebook.appmanager' and 'com.facebook.system', but then I was on a cleanup spree and also deleted many TLC/Alcatel stuff like 'Booster', 'User Center', their 'Apps' store, etc...

I kept TCL launcher and basic apps for now, and most of Google stuff.

Now the device is matching my use case, I'll let it like this.

My TODO list for when I'll have more time:

maybe shrink 'system' partition to increase 'userdata' size

build a custom recovery to patch stuff more easily, though the flash tool is doing the job

install a local terminal/shell and su

replace the launcher/apps, or maybe install AOSP/OmniROM/whatever

but don't wait for me...

For now, the only useful thing I can provide is the fixed scatter file.

I'm not sure my 'system' is matching other people needs, especially I maybe removed too many things and will only notice that later. I'm already thinking I shouldn't have removed 'GoogleTTS' which could be useful in some situations...

############################################################################################################
#
# General Setting
#
############################################################################################################
- general: MTK_PLATFORM_CFG
info:
- config_version: V1.1.2
platform: MT6580
project: pixi4_4
storage: EMMC
boot_channel: MSDC_0
block_size: 0x20000
############################################################################################################
#
# Layout Setting
#
############################################################################################################
- partition_index: SYS0
partition_name: preloader
file_name: preloader_pixi4_4.bin
is_download: true
type: SV5_BL_BIN
linear_start_addr: 0x0
physical_start_addr: 0x0
partition_size: 0x40000
region: EMMC_BOOT_1
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: BOOTLOADERS
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS1
partition_name: pgpt
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x0
physical_start_addr: 0x0
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS2
partition_name: proinfo
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x800000
physical_start_addr: 0x800000
partition_size: 0x680000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: PROTECTED
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS3
partition_name: nvram
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0xe80000
physical_start_addr: 0xe80000
partition_size: 0x500000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: BINREGION
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS4
partition_name: protect1
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0x1380000
physical_start_addr: 0x1380000
partition_size: 0xa00000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: PROTECTED
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS5
partition_name: protect2
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0x1d80000
physical_start_addr: 0x1d80000
partition_size: 0xa00000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: PROTECTED
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS6
partition_name: para
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x2780000
physical_start_addr: 0x2780000
partition_size: 0x80000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS7
partition_name: lk
file_name: lk.bin
is_download: true
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x2800000
physical_start_addr: 0x2800000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS8
partition_name: logo
file_name: logo.bin
is_download: true
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x3000000
physical_start_addr: 0x3000000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS9
partition_name: boot
file_name: boot.img
is_download: true
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x3800000
physical_start_addr: 0x3800000
partition_size: 0x1000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS10
partition_name: recovery
file_name: recovery.img
is_download: true
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x4800000
physical_start_addr: 0x4800000
partition_size: 0x1000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS11
partition_name: oemkeystore
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x5800000
physical_start_addr: 0x5800000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS12
partition_name: secro
file_name: secro.img
is_download: true
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0x6000000
physical_start_addr: 0x6000000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS13
partition_name: keystore
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x6800000
physical_start_addr: 0x6800000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS14
partition_name: seccfg
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x7000000
physical_start_addr: 0x7000000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS15
partition_name: expdb
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x7800000
physical_start_addr: 0x7800000
partition_size: 0x1000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS16
partition_name: wtfisthis
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x8800000
physical_start_addr: 0x8800000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS17
partition_name: frp
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0x9000000
physical_start_addr: 0x9000000
partition_size: 0x800000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS18
partition_name: nvdata
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0x9800000
physical_start_addr: 0x9800000
partition_size: 0x2000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS19
partition_name: metadata
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0xb800000
physical_start_addr: 0xb800000
partition_size: 0x2000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: INVISIBLE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS20
partition_name: system
file_name: system.img
is_download: true
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0xd800000
physical_start_addr: 0xd800000
partition_size: 0x41000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS21
partition_name: cache
file_name: cache.img
is_download: true
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0x4e800000
physical_start_addr: 0x4e800000
partition_size: 0xa000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS22
partition_name: userdata
file_name: userdata.img
is_download: true
type: EXT4_IMG
linear_start_addr: 0x58800000
physical_start_addr: 0x58800000
partition_size: 0x8fc80000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: true
is_reserved: false
operation_type: UPDATE
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS23
partition_name: otp
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0xe8480000
physical_start_addr: 0xe8480000
partition_size: 0x2b00000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: false
is_reserved: true
operation_type: RESERVED
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS24
partition_name: flashinfo
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0xeaf80000
physical_start_addr: 0xeaf80000
partition_size: 0x1000000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: false
is_reserved: true
operation_type: RESERVED
reserve: 0x00

- partition_index: SYS25
partition_name: sgpt
file_name: NONE
is_download: false
type: NORMAL_ROM
linear_start_addr: 0xebf80000
physical_start_addr: 0xebf80000
partition_size: 0x80000
region: EMMC_USER
storage: HW_STORAGE_EMMC
boundary_check: false
is_reserved: true
operation_type: RESERVED
reserve: 0x00