I don't know how many times already I've had to remove this, and now nothing seems to work anymore. Setting browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.newtabLayouts.variant-b to false should work, I guess, but it doesn't.
Edit: shishka_b0b has posted a solution (as for enlarging the quick link icons, I forgot the simplest solution - zooming in the page)
I remember when I was you enough to completely customize win 3.11 so it didn't look anything like stock and did everything the way I want. Now I find most of my PCs have the default 'just installed the os' after years of service. I support your effort but get nothing but a nostalgic chuckle.