It didn't always do this, but ever since I split my database and made the front-end an ACCDE file, any time I try to compact and repair either file, a new file called "Database 1" is generated and my original file size doesn't change.
Is this normal?
My ACCDB is roughly 20MB, and my ACCDE is just over 1M after being used the first time. Before opening, the ACCDE was only 600k (I have lots of forms and queries, and regularly store PDF attachments.
The new file is because the compact and repair process did not finish, so it cannot delete your original and rename the compacted file. This may be because it does not have exclusive access. Make sure that everyone is out of the system before you compact and repair. Check also that you have full permissions for the folder.