Q: When I receive an e-mail containing an embedded photo (a picture within the text of the message), I can't see the photo. In its place is a box with a red X in the corner. The only way I can see the picture is to copy the blank box and paste it into Microsoft Word. I use the Outlook e-mail program contained in Microsoft Office 365. How can I fix this?
Bill Glover, Burnsville
A: As you discovered, the photos aren't gone, just temporarily invisible. It probably happens because Outlook is using a corrupted "temporary internet file" that stores Web data.
To fix the problem, open Control Panel and click on "internet options." In the resulting menu, click on "settings." In the next menu, click on "view files." This calls up File Explorer, and it's displaying the contents of a folder called "INetCache." Something in INetCache has become corrupted, but you have no way to know what it is. As a result, its best to get rid of the entire folder (doing so won't harm Windows.)
But rather than delete the folder, move it to your Windows Desktop in case you later need some data from it. (Windows won't be able to locate the folder at its new location, so it's as good as deleted.)
To move the folder to the desktop, go to the upper left corner of File Explorer and click the "up arrow." File Explorer will now display the contents of the Windows folder, and within it you'll see that the "INetCache" folder is highlighted.
Now, reduce File Explorer to about half the size of your screen by going to the top right corner and clicking the icon of two squares, one on top of the other (click the square icon to expand again.) Now, drag the INetCache folder from File Explorer to your PC's Desktop.
When you receive e-mails in the future, any embedded photos should be visible.
Q: I've been trying to connect my new HP Envy 5055 All-in-One Printer to my new Chromebook computer. The printing works, but the image scanning does not. What can I do?
Dennis Scheller, Burnsville
A: Try using an HP printer function called "Webscan," which transfers scanned images from the printer to the Chromebook's browser (see tinyurl.com/y72vdoxk).
If Webscan doesn't work, you have two options:
• Scan images to a flash drive or an SD memory card connected to the printer (you must select the flash drive or card option in the "Scan" control panel menu.) Then move the memory device to the Chromebook.
• Look in your printer's "Apps" or "Scan" menus to see if it is able to transmit scanned images directly to your e-mail account or to the Google Drive online storage service. (To use your printer with Google Drive, see tinyurl.com/y8v5eu27).
Q: I set up a Microsoft account that requires me to use a PIN (personal identification number) every time I log into my PC. How can I get rid of this PIN requirement?
Walter Mieloch, Reading, Pa.
A: Switch your PC's login from your online Microsoft account to a "local" (your PC only) account (see "Step 1" at tinyurl.com/y8ervel8). You'll be asked to set up a local password. If you'd rather not have a password, leave the password box empty.
E-mail tech questions to steve.j.alexander@gmail.com. Include name, city and telephone number.
