I am unable to find anything in the errata specifically for rd2bn
The link is at the bottom of the 'cover sheet'

http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/acrobat/e...090402.pdf

Do you think it is a board related problem as both chips failed identically during the second programming , quite a coincidence !!!
not necessarily, 'factory fresh' chips boot for ISP, so all your funny wires and switches do not have any significance at the first programming.

Why do you not install NoTouch instead of mucking around with switches and wires? Then when NoTouch is installed at the factory fresh first programming there is never a need to do anything but signals through the serial port.

Erik