How do I load an EXE or DLL file icon?

I noticed in the registry when an icon stored as a resource is referred to, it has the file, a comma, and then the resource number like this:

"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe",0


So I tried this to load that exe file's icon as a picture.
But it didn't work. It gives me a "path/file access" error. WHY?