The chip used in the G98 is the same used in other pieces of Meridian equipment (i.e. 800 DV02 card) and is a bit more than an EPROM!
Is should be a surface mount chip on a 48pin carrier board.

It's certainly worth reseating the carrier board. Have you verified that the software you have obtained is O.K. (i.e. does it verify and checksum correctly? Is it definitely for the G98?)

I've never had any issues updating a G98 (and I've updated a few...)

Do you still have another G98 you can try?

Good luck,

Steve