image src

[eluser]minagabriel[/eluser]
i have this header code to call an image
this is my view

Code:

<a href="&lt;?php echo base_url(); ?&gt; ">
<img src=" &lt;?php echo base_url();?&gt; /images/logo.jpg" border="0"/>
</a>
<div> &lt;?php echo anchor("welcome/about_us","about us");?&gt; &nbsp;
&lt;?php echo anchor("welcome/contact", "contact");?&gt;

&lt;?php
echo form_open("welcome/search");
$data = array(
"name" => "term",
"id" => "term",
"maxlength" => "64",
"size" => 30
);
echo form_input($data);
echo form_submit("submit","search");
echo form_close();
?&gt;
</div>

the image never load to my view
my images folder is in codeigniter/images/logo.jpg "is thats where we place the folder "?
is the codeigniter the root ?
and what is the story of .htaccess how do i create it ?
i need help as soon as you guys can thnx