Loading a surface from a custom file format *RESOLVED*

[Satch]

In the past I've always used API calls like SetPixelV to draw my graphics, but I've decided its time to upgrade to DirectX. What I'm doing right now is trying to convert one of my old programs that uses SetPixelV into a new one that draws the same stuff with DirectX7. I'm fairly new to DX, and I've read a few tutorials on drawing surfaces, and basic stuff, but I've run into a problem: The images I display are stored in a binary file with pixel information in it instead of a normal bitmap file. I was told that in order to display the image using DirectX, I would have to create a surface and draw directly to its pixel data. Since I am new to DirectX, I have no idea how to do this.

Are there any tutorials out there that would show me how to load a DirectX surface from a custom file format that stores pixel data, instead of a simple jpeg, bitmap, etc. (preferably in Visual Basic)

Thanks