How does Windows Explorer extract EXE file's icon.

Question

It's my guess.

We list a files and directory by Windows Explorer. If Windows Explorer meets a exe file, it does,

LoadLibraryEx(ExefileName, LOAD_LIBRARY_AS_DATAFILE)
Then extracts the icon, and represents it.

But I'm not sure. Is there anyone who knows well about this?

I'm finding a nice case with LOAD_LIBRARY_AS_DATAFILE
Is there anything else you know?

Answer 1

Hi, there is a win32api called ExtractIconEx.

this is exactly what you are looking for.. :)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms648069%28VS.85%29.aspx

Answer 2

Some more detailed info by Raymond Chen:

How the shell converts an icon location into an icon