diff --git a/windows/table.cpp b/windows/table.cpp
index d0f2210f..f6fe1c94 100644
--- a/windows/table.cpp
+++ b/windows/table.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ static LRESULT onLVN_GETDISPINFO(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm)
 	HBITMAP b;
 	int checked;
 	bool queueUpdated = false;
+	HRESULT hr;
 
 	wstr = t->dispinfoStrings->front();
 	if (wstr != NULL)
@@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ void uiTableAppendCheckboxColumn(uiTable *t, const char *name, int checkboxModel
 
 void uiTableAppendCheckboxTextColumn(uiTable *t, const char *name, int checkboxModelColumn, int checkboxEditableModelColumn, int textModelColumn, int textEditableModelColumn, uiTableTextColumnOptionalParams *textParams)
 {
-	struct columnParams *p;
+	uiprivTableColumnParams *p;
 
 	p = appendColumn(t, name, LVCFMT_LEFT);
 	p->textModelColumn = textModelColumn;
@@ -343,78 +344,12 @@ void uiTableSetRowBackgroundColorModelColumn(uiTable *t, int modelColumn)
 	// TODO redraw?
 }
 
-// see https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20171129-00/?p=97485
-static UINT unthemedStates[] = {
-	0,
-	DFCS_CHECKED,
-	DFCS_INACTIVE,
-	DFCS_CHECKED | DFCS_INACTIVE,
-};
-
-// TODO call this whenever either theme, system colors (maybe? TODO), or DPI change
-static void mkCheckboxesUnthemed(uiTable *t, int cx, int cy)
-{
-	HDC dc;
-	BITMAPINFO bmi;
-	HBITMAP b;
-	VOID *bits;
-	HDC cdc;
-	HBITMAP prevBitmap;
-	RECT r;
-	int i;
-
-	dc = GetDC(t->hwnd);
-	if (dc == NULL)
-		logLastError(L"error calling GetDC() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-	ZeroMemory(&bmi, sizeof (BITMAPINFO));
-	bmi.bmiHeader.biSize = sizeof (BITMAPINFOHEADER);
-	bmi.bmiHeader.biWidth = cx * nCheckboxImages;
-	bmi.bmiHeader.biHeight = cy;
-	bmi.bmiHeader.biPlanes = 1;
-	bmi.bmiHeader.biBitCount = 32;
-	bmi.bmiHeader.biCompression = BI_RGB;
-	b = CreateDIBSection(dc, &bmi, DIB_RGB_COLORS,
-		&bits, NULL, 0);
-	if (b == NULL)
-		logLastError(L"error calling CreateDIBSection() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-
-	cdc = CreateCompatibleDC(dc);
-	if (cdc == NULL)
-		logLastError(L"error calling CreateCompatibleDC() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-	// TODO error check
-	prevBitmap = (HBITMAP) SelectObject(cdc, b);
-
-	r.left = 0;
-	r.top = 0;
-	r.right = cx;
-	r.bottom = cy;
-	for (i = 0; i < nCheckboxImages; i++) {
-		if (DrawFrameControl(cdc, &r,
-			DFC_BUTTON, DFCS_BUTTONCHECK | DFCS_FLAT | unthemedStates[i]) == 0)
-			logLastError(L"error calling DrawFrameControl() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-		r.left += cx;
-		r.right += cx;
-	}
-
-	// TODO error check
-	SelectObject(cdc, prevBitmap);
-	if (DeleteDC(cdc) == 0)
-		logLastError(L"error calling DeleteDC() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-	if (ReleaseDC(t->hwnd, dc) == 0)
-		logLastError(L"error calling ReleaseDC() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-
-	if (ImageList_Replace(t->smallImages, 0, b, NULL) == 0)
-		logLastError(L"error calling ImageList_Replace() in mkCheckboxesUnthemed()");
-
-	// TODO error check
-	DeleteObject(b);
-}
-
 uiTable *uiNewTable(uiTableModel *model)
 {
 	uiTable *t;
 	int n;
 	int i;
+	HRESULT hr;
 
 	uiWindowsNewControl(uiTable, t);
 
@@ -443,18 +378,10 @@ uiTable *uiNewTable(uiTableModel *model)
 	for (i = 0; i < uiprivNumLVN_GETDISPINFOSkip; i++)
 		t->dispinfoStrings->push(NULL);
 
-	// TODO update these when the DPI changes
-	// TODO handle errors
-	t->smallImages = ImageList_Create(
-		GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSMICON), GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSMICON),
-		ILC_COLOR32,
-		nCheckboxImages + uiprivNumLVN_GETDISPINFOSkip, nCheckboxImages + uiprivNumLVN_GETDISPINFOSkip);
-	if (t->smallImages == NULL)
-		logLastError(L"error calling ImageList_Create() in uiNewTable()");
-	// TODO will this return NULL here because it's an initial state?
-	SendMessageW(t->hwnd, LVM_SETIMAGELIST, LVSIL_SMALL, (LPARAM) (t->smallImages));
-
-	mkCheckboxesUnthemed(t, 16, 16);
+	hr = uiprivTableSetupImagesCheckboxes(t);
+	if (hr != S_OK) {
+		// TODO
+	}
 
 	return t;
 }
diff --git a/windows/table.hpp b/windows/table.hpp
index 51994bb5..98ede2f1 100644
--- a/windows/table.hpp
+++ b/windows/table.hpp
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ struct uiTable {
 	// MSDN says we have to keep LVN_GETDISPINFO strings we allocate around at least until "two additional LVN_GETDISPINFO messages have been sent".
 	// we'll use this queue to do so; the "two additional" part is encoded in the initial state of the queue
 	std::queue<WCHAR *> *dispinfoStrings;
-	// likewise here, though the docs aren't as clear
+
+	// tableimages.cpp
 	// TODO make sure what we're doing is even allowed
 	HIMAGELIST smallImages;
 	int smallIndex;
@@ -43,5 +44,6 @@ struct uiTable {
 	COLORREF clrItemText;
 };
 
-// tableimage.cpp
+// tableimages.cpp
 extern HRESULT uiprivLVN_GETDISPINFOImagesCheckboxes(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm, uiprivTableColumnParams *p);
+extern HRESULT uiprivTableSetupImagesCheckboxes(uiTable *t);
diff --git a/windows/tableimages.cpp b/windows/tableimages.cpp
index 47d392c6..8142aec7 100644
--- a/windows/tableimages.cpp
+++ b/windows/tableimages.cpp
@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@ TODO will this affect accessibility?
 We'll use the small image list. For this, the first few items will be reserved for checkboxes, and the last few for cell images.
 */
 
+// checkboxes TODOs:
+// - see if we need to get rid of the extra margin in subitems
+// - see if we need to get rid of the glow effect
+
 #define nCheckboxImages 4
 
 static HRESULT setCellImage(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm, uiprivTableColumnParams *p, uiTableData *data)
 {
 	int index;
 	HDC dc;
-	IWICImage *wb;
+	IWICBitmap *wb;
 	HBITMAP b;
 
 	index = t->smallIndex + nCheckboxImages;
@@ -35,10 +39,17 @@ static HRESULT setCellImage(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm, uiprivTableColumnPara
 
 	wb = uiprivImageAppropriateForDC(uiTableDataImage(data), dc);
 	b = uiprivWICToGDI(wb, dc);
-	if (ImageList_Replace(t->smallImages, index, b, NULL) == 0) {
-		logLastError(L"ImageList_Replace()");
-		return E_FAIL;
-	}
+	// TODO rewrite this condition to make more sense; possibly swap the if and else blocks too
+	if (ImageList_GetImageCount(t->smallImages) > index) {
+		if (ImageList_Replace(t->smallImages, index, b, NULL) == 0) {
+			logLastError(L"ImageList_Replace()");
+			return E_FAIL;
+		}
+	} else
+		if (ImageList_Add(t->smallImages, b, NULL) == -1) {
+			logLastError(L"ImageList_Add()");
+			return E_FAIL;
+		}
 
 	if (ReleaseDC(t->hwnd, dc) == 0) {
 		logLastError(L"ReleaseDC()");
@@ -54,6 +65,7 @@ HRESULT uiprivLVN_GETDISPINFOImagesCheckboxes(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm, uip
 	HRESULT hr;
 
 	if ((nm->item.mask & LVIF_IMAGE) == 0)
+		// TODO we actually need to do the first column fix here too...
 		return S_OK;		// nothing to do here
 
 	if (p->imageModelColumn != -1) {
@@ -63,8 +75,8 @@ HRESULT uiprivLVN_GETDISPINFOImagesCheckboxes(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm, uip
 		return hr;
 	}
 
-#if 0
 	if (p->checkboxModelColumn != -1) {
+#if 0
 		// TODO handle enabled
 		data = (*(t->model->mh->CellValue))(t->model->mh, t->model, nm->item.iItem, p->textModelColumn);
 		checked = uiTableDataInt(data) != 0;
@@ -73,17 +85,142 @@ HRESULT uiprivLVN_GETDISPINFOImagesCheckboxes(uiTable *t, NMLVDISPINFOW *nm, uip
 		if (checked)
 			nm->item.iImage = 1;
 		nm->item.mask |= LVIF_IMAGE;
-	}
 #endif
+		nm->item.mask |= LVIF_IMAGE;
+		nm->item.iImage = 1;
+		return S_OK;
+	}
 
 	// if we got here, there's no image in this cell
-	nm->item.iImage = 0;
+	nm->item.mask &= ~LVIF_IMAGE;
 	// having an image list always leaves space for an image on the main item :|
 	// other places on the internet imply that you should be able to do this but that it shouldn't work
 	// but it works perfectly (and pixel-perfectly too) for me, so...
+	// TODO it doesn't work anymore...
 	if (nm->item.iSubItem == 0) {
 		nm->item.mask |= LVIF_INDENT;
 		nm->item.iIndent = -1;
 	}
 	return S_OK;
 }
+
+// see https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20171129-00/?p=97485
+static UINT unthemedStates[] = {
+	0,
+	DFCS_CHECKED,
+	DFCS_INACTIVE,
+	DFCS_CHECKED | DFCS_INACTIVE,
+};
+
+// TODO call this whenever either theme, system colors (maybe? TODO), or DPI change
+// TODO properly clean up on failure
+static HRESULT mkCheckboxesUnthemed(uiTable *t, int cx, int cy)
+{
+	HDC dc;
+	BITMAPINFO bmi;
+	HBITMAP b;
+	VOID *bits;
+	HDC cdc;
+	HBITMAP prevBitmap;
+	RECT r;
+	int i;
+
+	dc = GetDC(t->hwnd);
+	if (dc == NULL) {
+		logLastError(L"GetDC()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+	ZeroMemory(&bmi, sizeof (BITMAPINFO));
+	bmi.bmiHeader.biSize = sizeof (BITMAPINFOHEADER);
+	bmi.bmiHeader.biWidth = cx * nCheckboxImages;
+	bmi.bmiHeader.biHeight = cy;
+	bmi.bmiHeader.biPlanes = 1;
+	bmi.bmiHeader.biBitCount = 32;
+	bmi.bmiHeader.biCompression = BI_RGB;
+	b = CreateDIBSection(dc, &bmi, DIB_RGB_COLORS,
+		&bits, NULL, 0);
+	if (b == NULL) {
+		logLastError(L"CreateDIBSection()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+
+	cdc = CreateCompatibleDC(dc);
+	if (cdc == NULL) {
+		logLastError(L"CreateCompatibleDC()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+	prevBitmap = (HBITMAP) SelectObject(cdc, b);
+	if (prevBitmap == NULL) {
+		logLastError(L"SelectObject() b");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+
+	// the actual list view LVS_EX_CHECKBOXES code does this to ensure the entire image is valid, not just the parts that are drawn after resizing
+	// TODO find a better, alpha-friendly way to do this
+	r.left = 0;
+	r.top = 0;
+	r.right = cx * nCheckboxImages;
+	r.bottom = cy;
+	FillRect(cdc, &r, GetSysColorBrush(COLOR_WINDOW));
+
+	r.left = 0;
+	r.top = 0;
+	r.right = cx;
+	r.bottom = cy;
+	// this is what the actual list view LVS_EX_CHECKBOXES code does to more correctly size the checkboxes
+	// TODO check errors
+	InflateRect(&r, -GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXEDGE), -GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYEDGE));
+	r.right++;
+	r.bottom++;
+	for (i = 0; i < nCheckboxImages; i++) {
+		if (DrawFrameControl(cdc, &r,
+			DFC_BUTTON, DFCS_BUTTONCHECK | DFCS_FLAT | unthemedStates[i]) == 0) {
+			logLastError(L"DrawFrameControl()");
+			return E_FAIL;
+		}
+		r.left += cx;
+		r.right += cx;
+	}
+
+	if (SelectObject(cdc, prevBitmap) != ((HGDIOBJ) b)) {
+		logLastError(L"SelectObject() prev");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+	if (DeleteDC(cdc) == 0) {
+		logLastError(L"DeleteDC()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+	if (ReleaseDC(t->hwnd, dc) == 0) {
+		logLastError(L"ReleaseDC()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+
+	if (ImageList_Add(t->smallImages, b, NULL) == -1) {
+		logLastError(L"ImageList_Add()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+
+	// TODO error check
+	DeleteObject(b);
+	return S_OK;
+}
+
+// TODO run again when the DPI changes
+HRESULT uiprivTableSetupImagesCheckboxes(uiTable *t)
+{
+	int cx, cy;
+
+	cx = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSMICON);
+	cy = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSMICON);
+	// TODO handle errors
+	t->smallImages = ImageList_Create(cx, cy,
+		ILC_COLOR32,
+		nCheckboxImages + uiprivNumLVN_GETDISPINFOSkip, nCheckboxImages + uiprivNumLVN_GETDISPINFOSkip);
+	if (t->smallImages == NULL) {
+		logLastError(L"ImageList_Create()");
+		return E_FAIL;
+	}
+	// TODO will this return NULL here because it's an initial state?
+	SendMessageW(t->hwnd, LVM_SETIMAGELIST, LVSIL_SMALL, (LPARAM) (t->smallImages));
+	return mkCheckboxesUnthemed(t, cx, cy);
+}