Question : Exactly what does Compact and Repair do?

Does Compact and Repair defragment the database file. Does it do anything more?

Answer : Exactly what does Compact and Repair do?

from KB

Running the Compact and Repair Database utility within Microsoft Access can also improve the performance of the database. This utility makes a copy of the database file and, if it is fragmented, rearranges how the database file is stored on disk. ..

read the rest here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288631