>When I create a COM object it shows up in the task manager as the name of the EXE file.
>
>1) Is there any way to have it show a different name in the task manager?

Not 100% sure, but I don't think you can change the name in Task Manager Processes tab.

>
>2) Does anyone know of a Windows API that removes a task from the task manager?

If you kill the process it will be removed from there. :)
As I understand you are trying to hide the running COM from Task Manager, right?