Dim binReader As New BinaryReader( _
    File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Open))
Try

    ' If the file is not empty,
    ' read the application settings.
    ' First read 4 bytes into a buffer to 
    ' determine if the file is empty.
    Dim testArray As Byte() = {0,0,0,0}
    Dim count As Integer = binReader.Read(testArray, 0, 3)

    If count <> 0 Then

        ' Reset the position in the stream to zero.
        binReader.BaseStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin)

        aspRatio   = binReader.ReadSingle()
        lkupDir     = binReader.ReadString()
        saveTime  = binReader.ReadInt32()
        statusBar = binReader.ReadBoolean()
        Return
    End If

' If the end of the stream is reached before reading
' the four data values, ignore the error and use the
' default settings for the remaining values.
Catch ex As EndOfStreamException
    Console.WriteLine("{0} caught and ignored. " & _ 
        "Using default values.", ex.GetType().Name)
Finally
    binReader.Close()
End Try

BinaryReader binReader =
    new BinaryReader(File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Open));
try
{
    // If the file is not empty,
    // read the application settings.
    // First read 4 bytes into a buffer to
    // determine if the file is empty.
    byte[] testArray = new byte[3];
    int count = binReader.Read(testArray, 0, 3);

    if (count != 0)
    {
        // Reset the position in the stream to zero.
        binReader.BaseStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);

        aspectRatio   = binReader.ReadSingle();
        lookupDir     = binReader.ReadString();
        autoSaveTime  = binReader.ReadInt32();
        showStatusBar = binReader.ReadBoolean();
    }
}

// If the end of the stream is reached before reading
// the four data values, ignore the error and use the
// default settings for the remaining values.
catch(EndOfStreamException e)
{
    Console.WriteLine("{0} caught and ignored. " +
        "Using default values.", e.GetType().Name);
}
finally
{
    binReader.Close();
}

BinaryReader^ binReader = gcnew BinaryReader( File::Open( fileName, FileMode::Open ) );
try
{


   // If the file is not empty,
   // read the application settings.
   // First read 4 bytes into a buffer to
   // determine if the file is empty.
   array<Byte>^testArray = gcnew array<Byte>(3);
   int count = binReader->Read(testArray, 0, 3);
   if ( count != -1 )
   {

      // Reset the position in the stream to zero.
      binReader->BaseStream->Seek(0, SeekOrigin::Begin);

      aspectRatio = binReader->ReadSingle();
      lookupDir = binReader->ReadString();
      autoSaveTime = binReader->ReadInt32();
      showStatusBar = binReader->ReadBoolean();
      return;
   }
}
// If the end of the stream is reached before reading
// the four data values, ignore the error and use the
// default settings for the remaining values.
catch ( EndOfStreamException^ e )
{
   Console::WriteLine( "{0} caught and ignored. "
   "Using default values.", e->GetType()->Name );
}
finally
{
   binReader->Close();
}