msxholder: of course if you can give me the same info and perhaps new dumps of stuff you showed to me in Nijmegen, that would be very great 
But you know that
By the way, do you happen to own the Lascom(mate) Kanji cartridge?
I've run AUTOEXEC.BAS style menu programs with joystick support to select programs from a menu, although clumsy there's a lot you can do even without a keyboard! 
What do you mean?
With MSXDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM on a disk, AUTOEXEC.BAT is executed. Without MSX-DOS on the disk, AUTOEXEC.BAS is auto-run as a BASIC program (can be an ASCII encoded file so you can even edit that with a text editor on PC). In both cases your programming skills & fantasy decide what happens next.
Starting a game that loads as files from floppy, is just a matter of something like
10 RUN "game.ldr"
as AUTOEXEC.BAS. Or simply rename the game loader to that. For games that load directly from disk sectors, it's a matter of "insert disk, hit reset button". For interactive operations like selecting from a menu, see STICK(n) and STRIG(n) BASIC commands.
Like said, working without keyboard is clumsy procedure but not impossible if drive(s) are available. Should I post BASIC listing of a loader I used here? (54 lines, just under 3 KB)
As you can see My HC-95 has only one cartdige slot... since I have an old 8280 broken here, can I take one cartdige slot from there and connect to one of the many internal port of the jvc hc 95 (jvc port?)?
Perhaps... somehow (see: pinout of those connectors unkown? 
). Also that info link shows a rather troublesome memory layout (expanded slot 0, RAM in slot 0-2, only 64 KB possibly not even a mapper). So don't be surprised if software doesn't work. At least, most MSX1 games should work. And a number of disk based MSX2 software works with 64K main RAM.
About that AC lead: sure why not, if it fits. 230 -> 100V converter is the main issue. What I meant is that 3-pin connector on backside is common for 230V equipment, I can't remember seeing that on 100V Japanese machine before. Most MSX machines (including Japanese models) get by with a 2-pin plug.
Another option is power the machine with a PC power supply. But that would require some soldering. And knowing how to bypass the internal power supply - not easy without a schematic...
Your reply is still very interesting to me.
Here are some pics of the "naked" hc-95:
With MSXDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM on a disk, AUTOEXEC.BAT is executed. Without MSX-DOS on the disk, AUTOEXEC.BAS is auto-run as a BASIC program (can be an ASCII encoded file so you can even edit that with a text editor on PC). In both cases your programming skills & fantasy decide what happens next.
Starting a game that loads as files from floppy, is just a matter of something like
10 RUN "game.ldr"
as AUTOEXEC.BAS. Or simply rename the game loader to that. For games that load directly from disk sectors, it's a matter of "insert disk, hit reset button". For interactive operations like selecting from a menu, see STICK(n) and STRIG(n) BASIC commands.
Like said, working without keyboard is clumsy procedure but not impossible if drive(s) are available. Should I post BASIC listing of a loader I used here? (54 lines, just under 3 KB)
Thank you so much retrotechie!!! I'm very sorry but I'm a noob in basic and program so, for example: I've downloaded disk image of laydock 2 from the net, can i write the floppy with my old windows 2000 pc? Do I need a special program to do that? When the disk will be ready can I just insert the disk in the drive, push the reset button, and it start automatically? without any further prompt from the keyboard?
Here' the keyboard pinout of my hc-95:
and here's the keyboard of the 8280:
Do you think I can find a convertor one ebay maybe? Or just soldering a new cable?
About that AC lead: sure why not, if it fits. 230 -> 100V converter is the main issue. What I meant is that 3-pin connector on backside is common for 230V equipment, I can't remember seeing that on 100V Japanese machine before. Most MSX machines (including Japanese models) get by with a 2-pin plug.
Another option is power the machine with a PC power supply. But that would require some soldering. And knowing how to bypass the internal power supply - not easy without a schematic...
What does it mean? here's the back of my hc-95:
and the product number volt, under the machine:
I've found this old auction from japan, here you can see the power cable:
http://auction.thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_aucitem/imag...
So do you think that this http://www.mybay.it/shop/1004-elettro/1013-cavi/1074-aliment... will work?
Thanks in advance,
Luca
it works!!! it works!!!
Thank you jltursan I've used a simple cable for pc with an adaptor for two flat poles connector straight into a giant beast step down converter!
Now I've got to do some tests...
1)I've tested some disks my friend gave me with 8280:
it seems that only "paint msx" is booting but after two screens it freezes. Only one of the two floppy drives works because just one boot the disks. So how can I test if both drives work? Is there some kind of software which can test the floppy drive? Has the two floppy drives the same function or you have to insert two floppy disk in both floppy drive to make games boot (like the x68000)?
2)I've inserted inside the cartidge slot the fm pac but nothing happens... is it normal? Is it possible that the fm pac or the cartidge slot is broken? How can I test it?
3)
With MSXDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM on a disk, AUTOEXEC.BAT is executed. Without MSX-DOS on the disk, AUTOEXEC.BAS is auto-run as a BASIC program (can be an ASCII encoded file so you can even edit that with a text editor on PC). In both cases your programming skills & fantasy decide what happens next.
Starting a game that loads as files from floppy, is just a matter of something like
10 RUN "game.ldr"
as AUTOEXEC.BAS. Or simply rename the game loader to that. For games that load directly from disk sectors, it's a matter of "insert disk, hit reset button". For interactive operations like selecting from a menu, see STICK(n) and STRIG(n) BASIC commands.
Like said, working without keyboard is clumsy procedure but not impossible if drive(s) are available. Should I post BASIC listing of a loader I used here? (54 lines, just under 3 KB)
Thank you so much retrotechie!!! I'm very sorry but I'm a noob in basic and program so, for example: I've downloaded disk image of laydock 2 from the net, can i write the floppy with my old windows 2000 pc? Do I need a special program to do that? When the disk will be ready can I just insert the disk in the drive, push the reset button, and it start automatically? without any further prompt from the keyboard?
I've got a question for all you experts: is it possible to write bootable disk games (with an old pc with windows 2000)?
If not can somebody write an image and post it in sites like mediafire (from where I can download it and write it on my windows pc), so I can finally play a game on my hc-95?
I think that will be interesting for all the community if somebody with this msx2+ games:
Laydock 2 - Last Attack
Golvellius 2
Shin Ku Gyoku Den - New Legendly Nine Gems
---
Midgarts Dual Side
Barunba
Ahparmyadock
Starship Rendezvous
can write a bootable disk image and post sowhere, so we can finally know if this hardware can scroll like a msx2+.
I can't see any deatils on those photos. So, it's a HC-95(V). Does it have a V9938 or a V9958? Can you see that?
Hi Manuel, I'm sorry if it doesn't help, but I'm surprised that you cannot get this simple (and proved by facts, also!) fact: I'm a noob, I'm a console retrogamer I don't know ANYTHING about computer, hardware or software, so please don't be disappointed: if I can, I will surely help you. But try to imagine: I'm trying everything to make this 'damn hc 95 work (I don't know if both floppy drives works and I don't know how to test them, I don't have a keyboard and seems that nobody can build a converter for that, I don' t know if fm pac works and I don't know how to test it, I don't know if I can play/test just one game and I don't know if I'm able to write a bootable game disk...) and when i will get some answers I will open the msx again, in any case you have to teach me how I can do that.
Thanks to everyone for the support!!!
Aye Luca, you need a hardware guy SO BADLY... 
One that comes with a soldering iron - check. One that lives near enough your place to investigate things & re-wire stuff in person. 
Or become a hardware person yourself.
Thank you jltursan I've used a simple cable for pc with an adaptor for two flat poles connector straight into a giant beast step down converter!
Had written a long post breaking down some eBay china crap options - let's hope nobody saw that. Congrats you passed the power-up hurdle!
Has the two floppy drives the same function or you have to insert two floppy disk in both floppy drive to make games boot (like the x68000)?
Plz. read the fine (MSX-DOS) manual... Only floppies in A: auto-boot, B: is ignored unless software asks for that drive (for multi-disk games, swapping floppies is the usual way). No MSX-DOS or no disk -> BASIC.
Is it possible that the fm pac or the cartidge slot is broken? How can I test it?
1) Run software that you know to support FM sound.
2) Listen.
3) ????
4) No profit. 
ciao, in pratica vorremmo sapere se il videochip è marchiato v9938 oppure v9958, di marca Yamaha.
Dovresti fare una foto piu ravvicinata della scheda madre.
Per la FMPAC prova a lanciare da BASIC questi comandi:
CALL FMPAC
CALL PAC
CALL MUSIC
uno di questi dovrebbe andare.
Ciao
Ciao, finalmente in italiano... allora non so se hai letto il post dal momento che è molto lungo e, non sapendo praticamente nulla di msx, sono stato particolarmente prolisso. Comunque deduco che tu non l'abbia letto dal momento che sono tre pagine di thread che sto disperatamente chiedendo aiuto per comprare/fabbricare un adattore per la tastiera, dal momento che il mio hc-95. Per la rimanente questione ti posso fare un piccolo sunto di quello che ho scritto a Manuel (che penso tu non abbia letto): "prova ad immaginare: sto impazzendo per far funzionare questo dannato hc-95
(non so se entrambi i floppy drive funzionino e non so come testarli, non ho una tastiera e sembra che io non possa comprare o non ci sia nessuno che mi possa costruire un adattatore, non so se funziona l'fmpac e non so come testarlo, non so se potrò giocare-testare un solo gioco perchè non so come si scrivano i dischetti e come possa avviarli senza una tastiera..). In ogni caso quando avrò delle risposte aprirò di nuovo il mio msx, ma dovresti dirmi tu come fare e dove guardare". Rimango francamente basito dal fatto che un utente stia chiedendo aiuto (perchè, come spero di sarai accorto dai miei "problemini", ne ho un GRANDE bisogno) e prevalga, in chi potrebbe probabilmente aiutarlo, la curiosità voyeuristica di vedere l'interno di una dannata macchina, bypassando completamente le domande. Ciao.
Hi RetroTechie!
Aye Luca, you need a hardware guy SO BADLY... 
One that comes with a soldering iron - check. One that lives near enough your place to investigate things & re-wire stuff in person. 
Or become a hardware person yourself.
... You're so right!!! But maybe can you be my software guy/guru? I don't know anything about msx dos or basic.
Had written a long post breaking down some eBay china crap options - let's hope nobody saw that. 
Congrats you passed the power-up hurdle!
Thank you!
Plz. read the fine (MSX-DOS) manual... Only floppies in A: auto-boot, B: is ignored unless software asks for that drive (for multi-disk games, swapping floppies is the usual way). No MSX-DOS or no disk -> BASIC.
I got bad news... unlucky the only floppy drive (maybe) working is B. Is it the end? What can I do now? Is it the same to start a game either in A or B?
What is the fine msx dos manual? Where can i find it?
"No MSX-DOS or no disk -> BASIC": what does it means?
1) Run software that you know to support FM sound.
2) Listen.
3) ????
4) No profit. 
What does it means? You know I got no software to test it...
3)
With MSXDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM on a disk, AUTOEXEC.BAT is executed. Without MSX-DOS on the disk, AUTOEXEC.BAS is auto-run as a BASIC program (can be an ASCII encoded file so you can even edit that with a text editor on PC). In both cases your programming skills & fantasy decide what happens next.
Starting a game that loads as files from floppy, is just a matter of something like
10 RUN "game.ldr"
as AUTOEXEC.BAS. Or simply rename the game loader to that. For games that load directly from disk sectors, it's a matter of "insert disk, hit reset button". For interactive operations like selecting from a menu, see STICK(n) and STRIG(n) BASIC commands.
Like said, working without keyboard is clumsy procedure but not impossible if drive(s) are available. Should I post BASIC listing of a loader I used here? (54 lines, just under 3 KB)
Thank you so much retrotechie!!! I'm very sorry but I'm a noob in basic and program so, for example: I've downloaded disk image of laydock 2 from the net, can i write the floppy with my old windows 2000 pc? Do I need a special program to do that? When the disk will be ready can I just insert the disk in the drive, push the reset button, and it start automatically? without any further prompt from the keyboard?
I've got a question for all you experts: is it possible to write bootable disk games (with an old pc with windows 2000)?
If not can somebody write an image and post it in sites like mediafire (from where I can download it and write it on my windows pc), so I can finally play a game on my hc-95?
I think that will be interesting for all the community if somebody with this msx2+ games:
Laydock 2 - Last Attack
Golvellius 2
Shin Ku Gyoku Den - New Legendly Nine Gems
---
Midgarts Dual Side
Barunba
Ahparmyadock
Starship Rendezvous
can write a bootable disk image and post sowhere, so we can finally know if this hardware can scroll like a msx2+.
Can you do this for me? or at least help me? I know it's not legal speaking of dump in a forum but I hope that somebody can help me cos, you see, I'm really desperate and I don't know what to do...
And finally: what does this starting screen means?
How much ram I got?
Thanks!
