damn
, lemme look up a little on the board and see if i can give you any other ideas
edit --------------------------
count the beeps again, if it's 8, the video card isn't seated right or dead, if it's 9, it's definatly a dead bios
when you tried the amibios.rom trick, did you have any other files on the disk? if so, make sure it's the only name, and name the file in all capital letters, eg, AMIBOOT.ROM . does it even try to access your floppy when you cut the power on?
edit 2 -------------------------
take a look at this link and make sure it's soldered by looking here...
http://www.badflash.com/findbios.htm
If your bios chip is square with connections on all four sides, it is in a PLCC (Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier) package. If the PLCC part is in a socket, it can be removed and reprogrammed like any other bios. . You will require a special tool to remove a PLCC part from its socket. Radio Shack sells these (276-2101). You can also remove the chip with a small jeweler's flat blade screwdrive by carefully prying up the corners a little at a time.
that's what it looks like that board has from the pic but i can't tell for sure