BMP -> HBITMAP

Code:
HBITMAP     hImage=NULL;
char            sImage[256]={0};

sprintf(sImage,".\\Images\\MyBitmap.bmp");
hImage=(HBITMAP)LoadImage(hInstance, sImage, IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_LOADFROMFILE); //load from file

//or if included in the exe as a resource

hImage=(HBITMAP)LoadImage(hInstance, MAKEINTRESOURCE(ID_MYBITMAP) , IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_DEFAULTCOLOR ); //load resource

if(!hImage)//error
          iError=GetLastError();
>>Dang, I wish I could still have access to physical pixel array.

Looked at GetDIBits() ?

or load with LR_CREATEDIBSECTION