Thanks again, Woody. I edited the registry using \\vmware-host\Shared Folders, and it worked fine. I then tried it using Z:, and this also works fine. I'll leave it as Z: for now then return to the long form if I run into a problem.
I've run into the apparent loss of mail a few times after moving the Store Folder to the external drive so both my wife and I have learned to recognize the problem (and not panic) when it happens. It's readily apparent because most of the folders are missing and all the messages from the past week that I've left on the server download. Before I used Tools>Options>Maintenance>Store Folder to point OE back to the external drive. Now I know to use regedit to redirect OE to the shared folder the next time it happens. It's a really quick fix.
Thanks again!!