Question

Is it possible to load a *.bmp file into a HBITMAP in a Win32 project, using only WINAPI functions?

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible using only the standard win32 library.

HBITMAP hBMP = (HBITMAP) LoadImage( NULL, "Your/ImagePath/a.bmp", IMAGE_BITMAP, 0, 0, LR_LOADFROMFILE);

hBMP is a handle to the BITMAP to use as you want.

Note: It is important to pass NULL as the first argument, from the docs:

hinst [in, optional]

To load a stand-alone resource (icon, cursor, or bitmap file)—for
example, c:\myimage.bmp—set this parameter to NULL.

From the msdn documentation for LoadImage.