GPT USB Boot Woes - Any Help Apreciated

[BlackAeronaut]

Howdy folks.  Effin' new guy here, so please be kind - I'm going to be as descriptive as I can.
I'm running a Dell Inspiron 11 3147 with the Intel N3540 CPU.  Current BIOS is InsydeH2O version A11.

My big issue is that, given this thing doesn't have a CD/DVD drive (what does these days?) I have to boot from a LiveUSB install if I want to run/install anything other than Windows.

The problem that I seem to be having is that some distros of Linux do not seem to like being on a USB partitioned with MBR.  Instead, the image files are set up for GPT partitions.  And we all know that GPT =/= MBR.  And really, I can't blame them since MBR only allows for four volumes to a physical drive.

So why would this be an issue for me?

Because for some godamnably inscrutable reason, my EFI refuses to detect USB thumb drives formatted with GPT partitions when running strictly in UEFI mode.  It will detect them, weirdly enough, in Legacy Mode, but at that point the BIOS seems to go looking for the boot files like the drive is partitioned using MBR instead of GPT.  And trying to run these more selective distros on a UEFI-compatible MBR partition just results in a no-boot condition where the boot loader starts trying to find the drive it's supposed to boot off of, but it can't because it's expecting GPT instead of MBR.

Helluva catch-22 situation.

So, I gotta ask: what's the easiest route for me to go?  Get some help here in trying to hack my BIOS into detecting GPT thumb drives?  Or modify the boot loaders to work under MBR?

Or is there some stupid-simple fix that I've been overlooking because I'm having one of those can't-see-the-forest-for-the-trees moments?

[BlackAeronaut]

UPDATE:

Okay, had some luck with the Solus Linux.  I somehow manages to wave the chicken bones around my computer juuuuuust right and got a working Live USB boot to work under Legacy BIOS.

Of course, once I did the more 'permanent' install to the 32 GB USB 3.0 stick that I had intended for it...  Yeah.  Grub2 came up just fine, but after that, black screen, blinking cursor, and the keystrokes leave text on the screen.

Joy.

I'm gonna let this Ship sit for now, but basically my goal is to have my USB 3.0 stick dual booting D*** Small Linux NOT to use on old dinosaur boxes, and Solus-MATE to use on more contemporary systems.  Both have a good wealth of tools to use when you're not using frugal installs, which will be useful when I inevitably have to fix someone's botched-up Windows machine...

...unless they were REALLY enterprising and bricked their BIOS.  In which case I think I'll be referring to this place for a fix.