Just looking over the current code, and there's a bit of an error in vt8235_ide.c:
@line 54: // Use memory read multiple pci_write_config8(dev, 0x45, 0x1c);
@line 97: pci_write_config8(dev, 0x3c, 0xff);
writing a 1 to bit 4 of reg 0x45 write protects reg 0x3c. hope this helps someone!
-Corey