Cant load image in context menu as icon

I am trying to use the code from the following link:

VB- Helper Create menu items at run time with images, shortcut keys, and event handlers in Visual Basic .NET

The only difference is that I want a local image and not one from my.Recources

What I have is the following:

    ''Tool 2 displays a string and image.
    Dim tool2 As New ToolStripMenuItem("Tool 2", (Image.FromFile("C:\test\icon.jpg")))
    tool2.Name = "mnuToolsTool2"
    tool2.ShortcutKeys = (Keys.D2 Or Keys.Control) ' Ctrl+2
    AddHandler tool2.Click, AddressOf mnuTool2_Click
    ToolStripMenuItem1.DropDownItems.Add(tool2)

I could not reproduce this "error". However, from the given text, code and link, my best guess is as follows:

1. You are using a 64 bit machine.
2. You run the code inside the Form.Load event.
3. An error occurs somewhere in this method.

Private Sub _Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    'Code...
    Throw New Exception("ooops..")
    'Code...
End Sub

As you might not know is that errors thrown in the Form.Load on a 64 bit machine are "swallowed" by the system.

For more information, read this SO post: Why the form load can't catch exception?

You should move your code inside the constructor:

Public Sub New()
    Me.InitializeComponent()
    'Code goes here...
End Sub

Or change to the Form.Shown event:

Private Sub _Shown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Shown
    Try
        'Code goes here...
    Catch ex As Exception
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, Me.Text, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
    End Try
End Sub