Ok ppl no need to panic, a simple search of my Wordpress 2.8 downloaded files gave the answer.
Just open the file named:default-widgets.php which can be located inside the wp-includes directory and delete/modify whatever meta links you please in there and upload to ur server, as simple as that, this was found before in the widgets.php in previous versions.
Also to remove the search for title and replace it with lets say an image u can just delete the text in the php file.
If you have any problems email me.
Had few bumps on the road of upgrading myself to the latest version of Wordpress with my personal theme but all seems to be working fine.
enjoy ur coding,
Mario G
http://marioguarneros.com