Compacting Outlook.pst Files In Outlook 2003

[ask100]

Using Windows 7 and Outlook 2003 I have been reading how to do this compacting and also viewed instructions on YouTube.
However when I try to follow the instructions I get to 'Personal folders_General and click Compact Now' and it says it's compacting, but hours later the file size is still the same.
Does any member know what I am doing wrong?

[TheChair]

Did you empty the Delete Items folder first?

Compacting free up space left by items that have been permanently removed. If the Deleted Items folder has not been emptied, then the items have not been permanently removed, so there is no space to be freed.

Equally, of course, if you've not deleted any items, then there will be no space to be freed.

[ask100]

Thanks TheChair, I empty my Deleted file continuously and I assume that that is why I have nearly 7.7 Gb in Outlook.pst.