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This instruction is originally from HP Forum created by Justin Maslack. Download the Crisis Recovery file here.

I had to apply these instructions as I have Windows XP installed in my HP Pavilion dv2533 laptop. After 1.5 years of using it, my motherboard died, I had to replace it and re-downgrade my BIOS to version F.13. The seller where I bought my laptop (PCSuperFreak on eBay) flashed the BIOS with the latest version at the time (version F.2E).

When I visited the HP website to download BIOS version F.13, it only allows me to install it if Windows Vista is installed. To work it out, you need to convert the BIOS file to a bootable floppy version using Phoenix Crisis Recovery. I will not tackle how to create a Crisis Recovery Disk in detailed as I don't know how as well. I attached the file came from Justin Maslack who compiled the Crisis Recovery file which can be downloaded here.

The file were arranged in the floppy as:

• minidos.sys
• phlash16.exe
• bios.wph

1. Get an external usb floppy drive!
2. Extract Phoenix_Crisis_Recovery.7z file.
3. Run wincris.exe, select minidos option, do a full format of disk (with no label), let program copy files. Make sure order is correct.
4. Go to HP website and download the BIOS version that you need. For mine, it is version F.13 (sp36745.exe). Unzip it in your computer.
   
5. Open the unzipped file, then go to winphlash folder and find for a filename with an extension "WPH" - Usually the filename of that WPH file is described as the family ROM (30CD) plus the version name (F13).
   
6. Rename 30CDF13.WPH (as an example) to bios.wph. Replace the bios.wph file (on the floppy) with one for your machine if it is not a dv2533.
7. Now your Crisis Recovery disk is ready. On your laptop, hold Win+b while plugging in and pressing the power button.
8. Keep holding Win+b until beeping starts and floppy is being read.
9. Let the program do the rest (you should hear beeps as the disk is read, a pause break in the beeps, and then more beeps as the bios is flashed). The beep might last for 5-8 minutes.
10. The laptop will automatically shutdown.
11. Switch on the laptop and you should have the BIOS version that you want!
12. Retry if it does not work...It took me once, but some took four or five times.