Home screen bottom shortcuts

Hey guys, I'm trying to change the home screen bottom shortcuts (Phone/Contacts/Messaging/Internet), but to no avail.
Every site I visit tells me I can do it by dragging something off the home screen, but when I do that, the entire bottom bar is replaced by the 'Delete' icon, and I can't drag stuff there.
Holding down my finger on a shortcut on the bottom bar also does nothing.
Anyone have any ideas short of using another launcher or rooting the phone?

Thanks