Bringing Life to Program Manager: Icon Do-It 2.01 (Moon Valley Software)
When we think of Windows 3.x, it’s often about simple grey windows, Program Manager groups, and static icons. But back in the early ’90s, Moon Valley Software offered a little bit of magic with Icon Do-It, a playful utility that let users spice up their Program Manager icons — even animating them.
What Is Icon Do-It?
Icon Do-It is a customization tool for Windows 3.0 and 3.1 that lets you replace the standard icons in Program Manager with animated ones. It also includes a screen saver module built-in, so it's not just about static visuals — it adds motion and liveliness.
The software’s goal was pretty straightforward: let users personalize their Windows shell with more personality. Think of it as one of the early “shell enhancement” tools, before things like modern themes or animated desktops became common.
Version 2.01 & Release Details
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The particular version you have, 2.01, belongs to the 2.x series. WinWorld
According to WinWorld, the release date for the 2.x series was 1992. WinWorld
The download size on WinWorld is ~ 440.9 KB for version 2.01, which runs on 32-bit x86 architecture. WinWorld
In addition to the animated icons, the program enhances integration with Windows 3.1, most likely improving how it works with newer features of that era’s GUI. WinWorld
How Icon Do-It Fits in the Moon Valley Software Ecosystem
Moon Valley Software was quite creative in the early Windows 3.x era. Icon Do-It wasn’t their only shell-tweaking or fun utility:
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They also made Icon Hear-It, which added sounds to desktop actions (clicks, program launches, etc.) in Windows 3.0/3.1. WinWorld
Their Icon Make-It was a companion app: it allowed users to design their own animated icons and even attach .WAV sound effects. Elis Software+1
Another tool, Do It On Your Desktop!, bundled some of these features and added system-monitoring elements. Elis Software+1
Taken together, these utilities show that Moon Valley was about more than just productivity — they leaned into fun, personalization, and customization.
Why Icon Do-It Matters for Retro Windows Enthusiasts
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Nostalgia & Aesthetics: For anyone running Windows 3.0 or 3.1 in emulators or virtual machines, Icon Do-It provides a way to recapture that early ’90s charm — adding motion to what used to be static.
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Technical Curiosity: It’s a peek into how early Windows users were already demanding more from their shell experience. Animated icons weren’t common standard features yet, so tools like this filled a niche.
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Software History: It’s part of a small but interesting lineage of shell enhancement tools from a third-party publisher. Moon Valley (while perhaps not as well remembered as big companies) contributed to the culture of making Windows more “alive.”
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Lightweight Footprint: Given its small size (~440 KB), Icon Do-It is very VM / emulator friendly. You can easily run it under DOSBox-Windows or in a vintage VM without heavy resource demands.
Things to Watch Out For
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Compatibility: Designed specifically for Windows 3.0 and 3.1, so modern Windows versions (or even NT-era) likely won’t run it natively.
Resource Use: Animated icons and additional modules might use more memory than a typical Windows 3.x machine would comfortably spare, depending on your configuration.
Licensing / Legality: As with many old utilities available on abandonware-style archives, be cautious about the legal status; always try to source from legitimate preservation sites.
Final Thoughts
Icon Do-It 2.01 may seem like a quirky piece of software today, but it was part of a broader trend in early GUI customizations. For vintage Windows fans, it’s a small but delightful utility: the kind of thing that makes an old Program Manager feel less rigid, more personal, and more animated — quite literally.
If you’re running a DOSBox-Windows or a vintage VM, giving Icon Do-It a spin is a fun way to recreate that early Windows era feel, complete with bouncing or moving icons and a little extra personality on the desktop. It’s a reminder that even nearly 30–35 years ago, software makers were already thinking about how to make the PC experience more fun — not just functional.
