diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d7b7b2cd..440e8458 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Exclude obj directory (object files for Makefile build)
 /obj
 
-# Exclude the converted resource files
+# Exclude converted resource files
 src/Resource
 
 # Exclude .dat and .rec files in build directories (avoid Config.dat, 290.rec and others)
@@ -14,19 +14,19 @@ build_jp/*.rec
 msvc2003/devilution/orig.asm
 msvc2003/devilution/compare.asm
 
-# Exclude build output on Linux (exclude normally produced executable files)
+# Exclude build output on Linux (exclude normally produced executable files and out files)
 build_en/CSE2
 build_en/CSE2d
 build_en/DoConfig
 build_en/DoConfigd
-
 build_jp/CSE2
 build_jp/CSE2d
 build_jp/DoConfig
 build_jp/DoConfigd
+build_en/*.out
+build_jp/*.out
 
-
-# Exclude executables in the build folder (and .exe.manifest files)
+# Exclude PE executables in the build folder (and .exe.manifest files)
 build_en/*.exe
 build_en/*.exe.manifest
 build_jp/*.exe
@@ -46,12 +46,3 @@ msvc2003/Debug
 msvc2003/Release
 msvc2003/Debug (Japanese)
 msvc2003/Release (Japanese)
-
-# Exclude VS Code folder
-.vscode/*
-
-# Include generically useful files for VS Code users
-!.vscode/settings.json
-!.vscode/tasks.json
-!.vscode/launch.json
-!.vscode/extensions.json
diff --git a/msvc2003/devilution/comparer-config.toml b/msvc2003/devilution/comparer-config.toml
index d44ee262..73bfb2a0 100644
--- a/msvc2003/devilution/comparer-config.toml
+++ b/msvc2003/devilution/comparer-config.toml
@@ -2126,6 +2126,14 @@ addr = 0x46E9E0
 name = "ActNpc360"
 addr = 0x46EA90
 
+[[func]]
+name = "LoadNpcTable"
+addr = 0x472400
+
+[[func]]
+name = "ReleaseNpcTable"
+addr = 0x472710
+
 [[func]]
 name = "InitBossChar"
 addr = 0x472740
diff --git a/src/NpcTbl.cpp b/src/NpcTbl.cpp
index ef51beaf..9f9409a3 100644
--- a/src/NpcTbl.cpp
+++ b/src/NpcTbl.cpp
@@ -1,60 +1,98 @@
 #include "NpcTbl.h"
 
+#include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include "WindowsWrapper.h"
+
 #include "File.h"
 #include "Generic.h"
 #include "NpcAct.h"
 
 NPC_TABLE *gNpcTable;
 
-bool LoadNpcTable(const char *path)
+BOOL LoadNpcTable(const char *path)
 {
-	const long size = GetFileSizeLong(path);
-	if (size == -1)
-		return false;
+	FILE *fp;
+	long n;
+	long num;
+	unsigned long size;
 
-	const long num = size / 0x18;
+	size = GetFileSizeLong(path);
+	if (size == -1)
+		return FALSE;
+
+	num = size / 0x18;
 
 	gNpcTable = (NPC_TABLE*)malloc(num * sizeof(NPC_TABLE));
 	if (gNpcTable == NULL)
-		return false;
+		return FALSE;
 
-	FILE *fp = fopen(path, "rb");
+	fp = fopen(path, "rb");
 	if (fp == NULL)
-		return false;
+	{
+		free(gNpcTable);
+		gNpcTable = NULL;
+		return FALSE;
+	}
 
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //bits
-		gNpcTable[n].bits = File_ReadLE16(fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //life
-		gNpcTable[n].life = File_ReadLE16(fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //surf
+#ifdef NONPORTABLE
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //bits
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].bits, 2, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //life
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].life, 2, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //surf
 		fread(&gNpcTable[n].surf, 1, 1, fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //destroy_voice
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //destroy_voice
 		fread(&gNpcTable[n].destroy_voice, 1, 1, fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //hit_voice
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //hit_voice
 		fread(&gNpcTable[n].hit_voice, 1, 1, fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //size
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //size
 		fread(&gNpcTable[n].size, 1, 1, fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //exp
-		gNpcTable[n].exp = File_ReadLE32(fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //damage
-		gNpcTable[n].damage = File_ReadLE32(fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //hit
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //exp
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].exp, 4, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //damage
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].damage, 4, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //hit
 		fread(&gNpcTable[n].hit, 4, 1, fp);
-	for (long n = 0; n < num; n++) //view
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //view
 		fread(&gNpcTable[n].view, 4, 1, fp);
+#else
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //bits
+		gNpcTable[n].bits = File_ReadLE16(fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //life
+		gNpcTable[n].life = File_ReadLE16(fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //surf
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].surf, 1, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //destroy_voice
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].destroy_voice, 1, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //hit_voice
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].hit_voice, 1, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //size
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].size, 1, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //exp
+		gNpcTable[n].exp = File_ReadLE32(fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //damage
+		gNpcTable[n].damage = File_ReadLE32(fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //hit
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].hit, 4, 1, fp);
+	for (n = 0; n < num; n++) //view
+		fread(&gNpcTable[n].view, 4, 1, fp);
+#endif
 
 	fclose(fp);
-	return true;
+	return TRUE;
 }
 
 void ReleaseNpcTable()
 {
 	if (gNpcTable)
+	{
 		free(gNpcTable);
+		gNpcTable = NULL;
+	}
 }
 
 //Npc function table
diff --git a/src/NpcTbl.h b/src/NpcTbl.h
index e7604d41..981df470 100644
--- a/src/NpcTbl.h
+++ b/src/NpcTbl.h
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include "WindowsWrapper.h"
+
 #include "Draw.h"
 #include "NpChar.h"
 
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ struct NPC_TABLE
 
 extern NPC_TABLE *gNpcTable;
 
-bool LoadNpcTable(const char *path);
+BOOL LoadNpcTable(const char *path);
 void ReleaseNpcTable();
 
 //NPC Function table