1) It doesn't matter really how they were added in terms of .net or browse.

The important point is the component is a referenced assembly so it needs to be present for your program to work.

The exception to this is adding a COM component. When you add a COM component to the project, Visual Studio creates a C# wrapper class for you. Your code calls the wrapper class, and the wrapper calls the COM component. Of course, the COM component must be registered on the machine where you run your program for things to work.

2) Make a copy of the project and then simply delete the references to these components in your project. You'll have to correct any of the compile errors by replacing the functionality with your own (or by removing that functionality).