I will try to be as succinct as possible. Here's the short version:
We have a 3-5 year old Google search appliance that doesn't post after I tried to update the BIOS. The motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8IPXDR. We want to salvage the system but I don't know where to start. It's a 2U box. Do I have to buy the exact same motherboard to ensure it will fit the case? I've never put a 2U box together and have no idea how customized the interior of the case is, regarding the rails and fans, etc. I'm afraid I'll buy a socket 603 (?) board that theoretically accommodates all of the parts we have but then it won't actually fit the case. Basically, we hate to waste all of this RAM and disk but we can't spend a lot of money to put this system back together. It would be great if we could salvage the CPUs as well.
Impossible? Unlikely? Tell me about it!
TIA.
Are you sure Google didn't put some semi-proprietary BIOS on the board? If I remember right, don't they typically lock down those boxes so you only can use the webgui to manage it?
I'd check with Google first...
I'd try contacting Gigabyte for a way to update the BIOS. Years ago (maybe 7) I was able to send the motherboard in and they were able to reflash it with some specialized tools and send it back to me. I forget the cost associated, but it couldn't have been more than $50 at the time including shipping.
The BIOS chip on that motherboard seems to be removable, so you could replace the chip with a known working version, there are companies here in the UK that supply working BIOS chips for this very purpose, at a cost of about £15. If you are not in the UK I am sure there will be companies in other countries who offer a similar service.