I am having trouble getting the HD hotkeys to work

Hi
what is your problem exactly ?

If you just want the default HD hotkeys, the simplest way is to install the HD hotkeys mod from the voobly mod center. (http://www.voobly.com/gamemods/mod/350/HD-Hotkeys)

If have custom hotkeys on HD and want to use those, don't install the HD hotkeys mod, instead do this:

1. Start a game in single player (In a game room, top menu bar->game->start in SP menu, then launch the game). When you are in the menu, click on options and enter a name to create a profile.
2. Go into your Age2HD installation, then the profiles folder and make a copy of player0.hki. Rename that copy to player1.hki
3. Move that copy to your AoC installation folder (If you use the compatibility patch, that would be Age2HD folder itself), not into any subfolders of it.