This simple command will disable the Windows XP SP2 (and most likely other Windows Firewalls).
C:\netsh firewall set opmode disable
The complete netsh documentation is here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/depfwset/wfsp2apb.mspx
With it, you can enable and disable the firewall, add exceptions, add programs, etc.
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Enable responses to inbound pings in Vista: netsh firewall set icmpsetting 8 enable
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You can do a lot with NETSH. Change gateways, DNS server, WINS servers, etc. Some examples here. I've combined this with Systernal's PSEXEC to update machines on a LAN when a DNS server needed changing.
netsh interface ip set dns "Local Area Connection" static 192.168.0.200
http://www.petri.co.il/configure_tcp_ip_from_cmd.htm
Tags: firewall, netsh, vista, WinXP, WINS, DNS, gateway, tcp, remote