Help needed from A3000 users !

[Amiga4k]

The original 200MB drive works, as a stand-alone drive?
If that is true, your system at leasts is functional.

Now, are you adding these drives on the same cable?
If not: Each drive should be stand-alone. Hookup each drive separately, and record all info from HDToolBox set-up. Each drive should have a different SCSI ID number.
If yes: Only the last drive gets terminated.

[Amiga4k]

About the battery:
(1) This is not a problem with a formatted drive that has AmigaDOS already setup. But without a battery, the date of newly installed files can confuse the system clock.
(2) Suggest you read the "readme file" on setbatt.lha as it explains that program. Quote: "The controller's configuration is stored in a NVRAM powered by the same battery which the clock is."

Suggest you try powering the hard drive (test only) from any other external power supply. Maybe an extension from the PC you mentioned?

It it were not so expensive shipping to Belgium, I'd send you a small hard drive already prepped with AmigaDOS 2.1 for you.

PS: appreciate your location being "public". Maybe a more local A2000 or A3000 user could prep your drive? Come on guys and gals, be a little more generous! This is an Amigan!

[Amiga4k]

If you go into prefs, and set the time, it will "keep time" until you turn-off the A3000. The battery supplies power to the clock circuit when the computer is turned-off. Without a charged battery, the clock (DATE AND TIME) will become randomized. It is this fault that will cause problems.