Win98 VM on XP - IDE controller code 10 error

Hi all,
Set up is XP Home host OS, Win98 guest OS with two hd images and cd-rom
Tried a DOS VM (well, Win98 boot disk) with CD-ROM access, and it all works
Tried two installs of Win98SE and it won't recognise the CD-ROM at all, and there are IDE problems. Same issues each time, so don't think it's finger trouble.

In safe mode Windows reports 2 x IDE drives, Primary & Secondary IDE controllers (single fifo), Standard Dual PCI IDE controller (IRQ14) and Standard IDE/ESDI Hard disk controller (IRQ 15), all as default MS drivers and configuration.
Disks A,C,D running in compatability mode, and compatability mode reduces performance etc

In normal mode, Windows reports 2 x IDE drives (sometimes...), Primary IDE controller (single fifo), Standard Dual PCI IDE controller (IRQ 14) and Standard IDE/ESDI Hard disk controller (IRQ 15) with status code 10 and a little yellow exclamation mark. Sometimes there is also the warnings about compatability mode paging and drives C & D.
I've tried various combination of 1 or 2 HD, adding the oakcdrom.sys driver to config.sys and even as last resort searching the interweb to find suggestions such as reseat cables and install chipset drivers for the motherboard. Um, yeah. Removing the IDE controllers and letting Windows rediscover them makes no difference.

Virtual beers on offer to anyone who can assist - alas real beer doesn't fit down an DSL line very well

Cheers,
=Ric