convert from hex code to exe file in vb.net - vb.net

Question

I have this code in vb6 that can create an exe file from its hex code. I want to do the same in vb.net.
This is my vb6 code:
Public Sub Document_Open()
Dim str As String
Dim hex As String
hex = hex & "4D 5A 50 00 02 00 00 00 04 00 0F 00 FF FF 00 00 B8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00"
hex = hex & "40 00 1A 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00"
'you have to put the full hex code of the application here
Dim exe As String
Dim i As Long
Dim puffer As Long
i = 1
Do
str = Mid(hex, i, 2)
'convert hex to decimal
puffer = Val("&H" & str)
'convert decimal to ASCII
exe = exe & Chr(puffer)
i = i + 2
If i >= Len(hex) - 2 Then
Exit Do
End If
Loop
'write to file
Open "C:\application.exe" For Append As #2
Print #2, exe
Close #2
'and run the exe
Dim pid As Integer
pid = Shell("C:\application.exe", vbNormalFocus)
End Sub

Answer 1

It would be easier if the data was defined as a byte array literal, like this:
Dim bytes() As Byte = {&H4D, &H5A, &H50,
&H0, &H2, &H0} ' etc...
File.WriteAllBytes("c:\application.exe", bytes)
However, it would be nicer to store the binary data in a resource, then just write the resource out to a file, like this:
File.WriteAllBytes("c:\application.exe", My.Resources.Application_exe)
If you really need to convert it from a hexadecimal string, you could do it like this:
Dim hex As String = "4D 5A 50 00 02 00 00 00 04 00 0F 00 FF FF 00 00 B8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00" &
"40 00 1A 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00"
Using fs As New FileStream("c:\application.exe", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
For Each byteHex As String In hex.Split()
fs.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(byteHex, 16))
Next
End Using