.htaccess can be used to handle security, and to deny access to files that people have no business touching ... namely .php files.

Some hosting configurations don't like letting you set security at the per-folder level that way (IMO that's because they don't really understand security and just operate in "scared" mode instead of truly being functional and secure at the same time).
In those cases, deleting or renaming the .htaccess file effectively removes it from the equation.

If you're still seeing errors about reading a .htaccess file ... then ... it probably still exists. Either you're doing your changes in the wrong place or you're dealing with something beyond your control.

Again, talk to your hosting company about the problem.