sometimes we have to learn to let go..LOL. But I want to fix this 9608 telephone, but alas, I think it is a goner...

it boots an never makes it past the initial Avaya load up screen. After about 10 minutes, it reboots again. It never gets to the program prompt.

Should I be finding it a good home in the electronics recycle bin??

Maybe, but it may just need a software upgrade. What rel is IP office

I have only tried it on release 9. It won't even get to the login screen on the phone.

I would try it on another system, unless you did already.
Then why not send it out for repair?

Do you have a working tftp/http server running and does the phone know how to get to it for .bin files? If file servers are not specified via DHCP, you'll need to manually enter. Does it let you press * to program address info?