Convert a binary file to hex code

[Asheekay]

Basically, how do you convert a binary file to its hex code in VB.NET just like this (VB6) thread on this forum: https://www.vbforums.com/showthread....t=binary%20hex

So what I need is:

1. Read a binary file.

2. Convert each byte of the file to its ASCII value. Note that since it is a binary file, there are going to be a lot of non-printable characters in there. So A becomes 65, backspace char becomes 8 etc.

3. Convert this array of ASCII values to the array of their 2 digit HEX conversions so that 65 becomes 41 and 8 becomes 08 etc.

4. Convert this array to a string.

5. Convert this whole string back to the original binary file. (Another function for this, obviously)

Right now I have:

Dim scr_filename As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.Desktop + "\mypic.jpg"

Dim fdata = My.Computer.FileSystem.ReadAllBytes(scr_filename)

            Dim res As String = "", fstr As String, num As Integer
            'res = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(fdata)

            fstr = System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetString(fdata)

            For i As Integer = 0 To (fstr.Length - 1)
                num = Asc(fstr.Substring(i, 1))
                res += num.ToString + " "
            Next
            MsgBox(res)

Running this unholy, wicked code for a 2 kb file generates the result within one second. For a 20 kb file, it takes around 4 seconds. For a 120 kb file ... well, I executed the code and went away from the computer for more than half an hour. When I returned, the messagebox had still not appeared and the form was stuck/disabled.

How do I exorcise this code, or, perhaps sacrifice it at the alter of Elder VB.NET and get a whole fresh code to do my bidding?