Getting debug information for a release build troubles

This is a question for a C++ application (not "managed C++) using VS .NET 2003 IDE.

I have followed many instructions on generating debug information for a release build. But whatever I do, it doesn't seem to work. I've followed the steps from:
http://www.cygnus-software.com/papers/release_debugging.html
and
http://www.codeproject.com/debug/XCrashReportPt1.asp?print=true

The lastest instructions I found were from MSDN:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291585/
"How to Create Debug Symbols for a Visual C++ Application"

which is a bit different than the other's previous to that I had read (those other articles never mentioned VS.NET)

The executable project depends on linking with many static libraries that are included within the solution. I've changed all of their settings to this:

Compiler:
Enable /Z7 for Visual C++ .NET (General section->Debug Info Format:C7 compatible)
Enable /O2 (Optimization section->Maximize Speed)

Linker:
Select /INCREMENTAL:NO (General section)
Select /DEBUG:Yes (Debugging section)
Select /OPT:REF (Optimization section->References)
Selecdt /OPT:ICF (Optimization section->Enable COMDAT Fielding)

I then cleaned the solution and rebuilt everything. But when I then go to File->Open Project and load the executable file, and then once loaded, hit F11 to "Step Into", I get the following popup dialog error message:

"'Castle.exe' does not contain debugging information. (No symbols loaded.) Click OK to debug anyway."

Previous to these settings, I was setting the Debug Information Format to "Program Database".  I got the same error. But in the MSDN article mentioned above, it specifically says to Enable 'C7 Compatible' for Visual C++ .NET and 'Program Database' for Visual C++ 6.0 ....

Any more ideas on why my symbols are not being found?

Oh, and for whatever reason, I am still getting a .pdb file generated in the same directory as the executable file...even though I have 'C7 compatible' specified...

Thanks,
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