Question : Problem: How can one make sure an HP 3050 USB only printer installs with a port that begins with USB and DOT?

I have a SW product that can only print to an LPT port.  With an HP 3050 printer installed using the HP supplied driver the printer connects to something identified as "DOT4" in the printer ports list in the printer and faxes function of Win XP.  The port beginning with "DOT4" cannot be redirected with a Net USe statement to an LPT! port.  However, I have in the past redirected USB001 to an lpt1 port successfully.  What I am wondering is how can I install some HP printer driver that will use USB in the installation instead of the DOT and then left me use the installed printer driver using the USB port to redirect printer output from the LPT1 port  using the shared printer connect to the USB named port instaead of the DOT named port.  What I want to do is:  NET USE LPT1 \\SERVERNAME\PRINTERSHARENAME and have it work.

I know that in the past I have used something like a Laserjet 4p driver in Win XP to get a port named USB.  I could then re-direct the port.  Now, the printer driver seems to insist that the port be named DOT if you use the 3050 driver installation disk.

Answer : Problem: How can one make sure an HP 3050 USB only printer installs with a port that begins with USB and DOT?

DOT 4 is HPs virtual USB port.  You are stuck with it.