I am trying to create an HTML email signature which includes an animated GIF image file (a regular image file would do, but I'm not convinced it is the file type I'm using that is causing the problem). I want to add the signature to emails sent from WLM 2012 desktop program. I would like to be able to send messages with the signature from a smartphone and webmail interface as well, but one step at a time!

I have tried following a number of different 'Help & how-to' articles, such as:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/forum/livemail-email/html-signature-why-does-my-picture-not-show/790e15d3-f3cf-40f6-a2c7-0e3c58f561c4?page=1

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/forum/livemail-wlsettings/how-to-set-up-an-html-signature/727a2868-61ee-4e43-bf06-b0dee0411b83

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/forum/livemail-email/html-signature/37193d33-7e18-4b50-bfc4-4c21e9bd8768

... I could go on!

Just one of the numerous problems I am having trying to achieve this is, although when I type the text for the signature it displays correctly, having saved the signature, when I open a new message the - (hyphen) symbol appears as â€“ and the ' (apostrophe) as â€˜ or â€™.

Some of the above articles suggest that if you want to include an image file in your signature, the file must be stored 'online' rather than on your own PC/laptop. I have uploaded the image to several online storage facilities including Microsoft's OneDrive, Google Drive & Dropbox. This either has no effect or, when I open a new email message, instead of the image I see the URL to where the image is stored online, or simply a place-holder where the image should be!

This is driving me MAD!!!