>"it doesn't persist I think this is because it has a user interface (is that correct???)"

Yes. As a general rule, you do not want 'any' User Interface related activity in your COM server. With SYS(2335) – Unattended Server Mode, you can cause any Modal states (e.g. Wait Window) to result in an run-time error.

To register COM objects defined as OLEPUBLIC in VFP EXE's open a command window, change to the folder containing your exe and type:

   MyExeName /RegServer
or MyExeName /UnRegServer

to remove it.

I think RegSvr32.Exe is intended more for DLL's OCX's etc.

>I then built the ComInst.exe on my laptop it gives me an 'The system cannot find path specified" error regardless of whether I run it from my computer to my laptop or vice-versa.

Paths and more usually User Context are a challenge with DCOM - run DCOMCNFG.EXE to configure your registered COM object, in order to set things like who can instantiate your object and (here is the big one) the User Context under which it runs, this determines resources that can be accesed and the ability to Map drives, etc.

Hope this helps.