Ok, just for giggles, I formatted an SD card using this method:
https://www.lifewire.com/format-sd-card-using-windows-4128719I did this as I didn't want to install the SD card formatter on my work laptop as it's very short of disk space.
So then I put it in my PI 1 B+, the one, no less, with the JCurtis ARF board in it!
I plugged in a HDMI cable and watched on my TV as it all extracted and installed - slower than on the PI 2 or 3! It first gave an undervoltage warning as I was using one of my Poundland USB mains PSUs, but it didn't seem to cause any problems.
I can connect on Wifi but I don't have a current licence for it so everything is showing up red. It recognises the USB dongles though.
Don't know whether it's the licence or hardware but it isn't picking up the BMP pressure sensor pressure.
One question, having extracted the software in another Pi for the 15 mins or so it takes, can you then put the card in the Pi 1 B+ to see what happens and if it boots ok? It seems to work fine on mine with the ARF board fitted. You could have a dodgy Pi.