Quoted from Acupuncture:Please let me know if you have any pointers.
I'd start over. Maybe you got a bad download. Download the 1.35 from the website, use the other mirror than the one you used last time. ( USA or EU ) be sure nothing else is on the USB stick. Follow the Full Install instructions again.
While waiting for the 1.35 to download. I'd look over inside the backbox. Be sure cables to motherboard and hard drive are on tight.
LTG : )