If you do not have an Insert button on your menu bar in the Write window then you are working on a Plain Text email and not HTML.

Add in the fact that you cannot paste an image into the body pretty much confirms Plain Text and not HTML.

Hold the shift key while clicking on the Write button and see if you have an Insert button then.

Thanks for trying. Sadly, holding the shift key while clicking on the shift key was not followed by the appearance of an insert button. Clive.

Hold the shift key while clicking on the Write button

This does not work. I need a way change the formatting to html if I am stuck in plain text. Thanks Clive

Holding the shift key while clicking the Write button toggles to the opposite of what your account settings are. So if your account settings are for HTML, holding the shift while opening a Write window will switch to Plain Text or vise versa. I am not sure what your issue with making this work is.

Check your account settings and see what your default is set to.

Account settings-Composition and Addressing

Is the option to compose in HTML checked?

Are you using an encryption add on of some kind? They force the composition to plain text.

Many thanks. Checked the option to compose in html in account settings and pressed OK. Managed to insert an image from my hard disc immediately. Clive.