removing the hot topic category all together?

[Nickhead]

due to the number of mods i have installed in my 1.1.14 smf, i cannot seem to figure the edits, manual or otherwise, how to remove the hot topics column and icons.

when i try the mod available, all but one file fails, and i am not savvy enough to find the differences in text to replace.

i am providing the files that failed:

thanks to anyone who has the time and patience to help.