Hi,
I have ISOs of Xubuntu 13.10/12.04.3 on 4 flashes, only one flash works. I have only run that one live.
I decided to install Windows 8 instead.
>>tThe hard drive is not detected and in legacy mode, the kernel hangs. I figured regardless of whether UEFI or legacy mode is used, there's going to be an extra step involved, so I decided to stick with UEFI mode. <<
I think UEFI is for Windows OS's. I didn't recognize an extra step.
This is all I did. I went to Legacy and pushed the Flash to load first and then clicked the flash and up came the choice either to install or run without installing. I choose the latter. My guess is that if you click on the flash the positioning makes no difference.
I have tried 3 different web sites for downloading Linux. Have had problems with all. I sometimes could operate a flash live for a few times and then it would fail. I have an old XP machine in which I have installed Xbuntu 12.04 and its been as stable as a rock for over a year.