Note:  This is a very rough description of where the Startup and Shutdown Items exist on each device.  This location will change from device to device and even from firmware version to firmware version.
If you have trouble at all, drop me a line and I can help you with your specific device.

In this for example, I use "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup" for the Imate Kjam on this particular firmware.
Where as on an older version of this device,  the key was - "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Splash Screen"

I can't stress enough that this is an example of what you can do,  and If you need any help just let me know!


Here is one that is quite cool. And can also speed up the boot and shutdown times.

I used to just dig through the \Windows\ folder on the device and find the images that were starting up and replace that file with my own image.
But there is a much cleaner way to do this.

The startup and shutdown process on most devices in contained in the registry.
E.g. From a BlackJack II. it exists like this :

Startup
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup\2]
"Splash"="\\Windows\\MSlogo.bmp"
"Duration"=dword:000007d0

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup\1]
"Dll"="OemAnimationDll.dll"


Shutdown
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Shutdown]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Shutdown\2]
"Splash"="\\Windows\\SamsungLogo.bmp"
"Duration"=dword:000007d0

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Shutdown\1]
"Dll"="OemAnimationDll.dll"

So you can see the startup section and the shutdown section,  the items, determined by the 1, 2 registry keys, and how long to play the image for.

In the startup,  item 1 is "OemAnimation.dll" - which is an animation for a carrier logo, stored in a dll file.
The second item is 2 - "\Windows\Mslogo.bmp" and it has a duration of "000007d0" which is the hex value for "2000"  I believe this is 2000ms in time.

So,  Lets say we want to rid of the Carrier logo, and leave the Microsoft Logo.bmp.

We would simply get rid of the "Dll" value within the "1" registry key. Enter the two values, ("Duration" and "Splash") into the "1"key and then remove the "2" Key.

So our registry on the device would now look like this -

Startup
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup\1]
"Splash"="\\Windows\\MSlogo.bmp"
"Duration"=dword:000007d0

When we turn on our device now,  we would just see the MsLogo.bmp and no Carrier animation.

If you have your own image that you want to display. You simply enter the file name in the "Splash" section.

e.g.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup\1]
"Splash"="\\Windows\\windowsmobiletraining.bmp"
"Duration"=dword:000007d0




The Startup and Shutdown sections of the registry may change from device to device,  but the standard seems to be "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup"

I've attached a sample image so you can have a play.

I was going to make a cab file for this. But because every device is different. I don't want someone executing the sample cab file and then alot of troubleshooting.
So for now,  Just go into the registry with a registry editor - Either "Mobile Registry Editor" or something like "PHM Registry Editor" on the device.

Copy the sample image I've attached here to a folder.. e.g. the \Windows\ Directory on the device.  
Then locate the startup registry key on the device.  Change the Splash value (Or create one.) and point it to "\Windows\WMCSplash.bmp Or where ever you have copied the image.

Soft reset and watch the device boot up.



Of course, it goes without saying that you should be very careful with this. Who knows what might happen if you specificy an image that doesn't exist!

I'm attaching a word .doc that goes through the process on a device I have here. This is an imate Kjam.  The screen resolution is 240x320.  
If someone has a device out there that they want to try this on, Let me know the screen resolution and I'll make you a sample image to try.
Also,  If you have a look at your device and it doesnt have the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Startup\" or Shutdown keys, let me know the device make and model and I'll tell you which key to modify.

 I had to convert the doc to pdf and zip the doco and image up in the attachedzip file.