If I read the device I get

Device 0000- 0882
Config 0000- cf00 3f0f 9d3c 0085 c00f e00f 400f
Code all FFFF

Vdd is a nad over 5V.

Got some advice from Melabs and changed the ProgTimes - one off improvement and then none of the pesky things will program.

Went back to the original ProgTimes and now back to flakey results - some good some bad units.
However, they now all program on my X2 board either with the board Vdd or the USB prog Vdd. so the X2 board has a cap right up against Vdd/Vss so I tried that on my ZIF adapter - no improvement.

Verdict - beats me At least I've got a work around, that works tonight anyway. I'm wondering if Mister_E's cable length might be the clue ? I'll need to see if I can make a Melabs 10pin cable and try that.

Andrew