saving an SQL image field as a bitmap in vb.net

As much as I don't like to just post a link to an article, I think this one is self-explanatory:

Working with SQL Server BLOB Data in .NET
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/66271/Working-with-SQL-Server-BLOB-Data-in-NET

Private Shared Sub StoreFile(filename As String)
	Dim connection As New SqlConnection("Server=(local) ; Initial Catalog = FileStore ; Integrated Security = SSPI")

	Dim command As New SqlCommand("INSERT INTO MyFiles VALUES (@Filename, @Data)", connection)

	command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Filename", Path.GetFileName(filename))
	command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Data", File.ReadAllBytes(filename))

	connection.Open()

	command.ExecuteNonQuery()

	connection.Close()
End Sub

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Private Shared Function RetrieveFile(filename As String) As Byte()
	Dim connection As New SqlConnection("Server=(local) ; Initial Catalog = FileStore ; Integrated Security = SSPI")

	Dim command As New SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM MyFiles WHERE Filename=@Filename", connection)

	command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Filename", filename)

	connection.Open()

	Dim reader As SqlDataReader = command.ExecuteReader(System.Data.CommandBehavior.SequentialAccess)

	reader.Read()

	Dim memory As New MemoryStream()

	Dim startIndex As Long = 0
	Const  ChunkSize As Integer = 256
	While True
		Dim buffer As Byte() = New Byte(ChunkSize - 1) {}

		Dim retrievedBytes As Long = reader.GetBytes(1, startIndex, buffer, 0, ChunkSize)

		memory.Write(buffer, 0, CInt(retrievedBytes))

		startIndex += retrievedBytes

		If retrievedBytes <> ChunkSize Then
			Exit While
		End If
	End While

	connection.Close()

	Dim data As Byte() = memory.ToArray()

	memory.Dispose()

	Return data
End Function

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thanks, but how do i actually write the data to a bitmap file on the local machine?

Instead of returning a byte array, use the MemoryStream from the RetrieveFile example, and generate an Image from it.

Example:

http://www.daniweb.com/software-development/vbnet/threads/176169/how-to-do-byte-array-into-image

Public Sub Byte2Image(ByRef NewImage As Image, ByVal ByteArr() As Byte)
    '
    Dim ImageStream As MemoryStream
    Try
      If ByteArr.GetUpperBound(0) > 0 Then
        ImageStream = New MemoryStream(ByteArr)
        NewImage = Image.FromStream(ImageStream)
      Else
        NewImage = Nothing
      End If
    Catch ex As Exception
      NewImage = Nothing
    End Try
  End Sub

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i keep getting the error 'parameter is not valid', ive tried a few different methods and its always the same. any ideas?