<PAGE>

      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 22, 2000

                                                   REGISTRATION NO. 333-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ----------------------

                    ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           WASHINGTON                                          91-1618616
(State or other jurisdiction                                (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

                               11431 WILLOWS ROAD
                                 P.O. BOX 97507
                         REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98073-9757
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                    ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION
                        1999 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)


                               PETER H. VAN OPPEN
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                    ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION
                               11431 WILLOWS ROAD
                                 P.O. BOX 97507
                         REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98073-9757
                                 (425) 881-8004
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                             ----------------------
                                    COPY TO:

                               LINDA A. SCHOEMAKER
                                PERKINS COIE LLP
                          1201 THIRD AVENUE, 48TH FLOOR
                         SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101-3099
                                 (206) 583-8888


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------

                                                              PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF SECURITIES               AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE             AMOUNT OF
            TO BE REGISTERED                 REGISTERED(1)        PER SHARE         OFFERING PRICE      REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S>                                        <C>              <C>                  <C>                  <C>
 COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE SUBJECT TO          48,000           $33.625(2)        $1,614,000.00(2)         $426.10
 OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
 COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE, NOT SUBJECT      1,952,000          $14.375(3)       $28,060,000.00(3)        $7,407.84
 TO OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
    TOTAL                                     2,000,000                            $29,674,000.00          $7,833.94
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------


</TABLE>


(1)      Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may
         be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance
         pursuant to the plan as the result of any future stock split, stock
         dividend or similar adjustment of the Registrant's outstanding Common
         Stock.

(2)      Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended. The proposed maximum offering price per share of $33.625
         represents the exercise price of currently outstanding options.

(3)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
         pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The
         calculation of the registration fee is based on a share price of
         $14.375, which was the average of the high and low sales prices for
         the common stock of the registrant on May 18, 2000.



<PAGE>

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:

               (a)    The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, filed on January 18, 2000, which contains
audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which such
statements have been filed;

               (b)    The description of the Registrant's Common Stock
contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on July
30, 1996 under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

               (c)    All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report
on Form 10-K referred to in (a) above.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that the securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters the securities covered
hereby then remaining unsold, shall also be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof commencing
on the respective dates on which such documents are filed.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Sections 23B.08.500 through 23B.08.600 of the Washington Business
Corporation Act authorize a court to award, or a corporation's board of
directors to grant, indemnification to directors and officers on terms
sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). Section 10 of the Registrant's Restated Bylaws provides for
indemnification of the Registrant's directors, officers, employees and agents
to the maximum extent permitted by Washington law.

         Section 23B.08.320 of the Washington Business Corporation Act
authorizes a corporation to limit a director's liability to the corporation or
its shareholders for monetary damages for acts or omissions as a director,
except in certain circumstances involving intentional misconduct, self-dealing
or illegal corporate loans or distributions, or any transactions from which
the director personally receives a benefit in money, property or services to
which the director is not entitled. Article 11 of the Registrant's Restated
Articles of Incorporation contains provisions implementing, to the fullest
extent permitted by Washington law, such limitations on a director's liability
to the Registrant and its shareholders.

         The Registrant also maintains an insurance policy insuring its
directors and officers against liability for certain acts or omissions while
acting in their official capacities.

                                  II-1

<PAGE>

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Exhibit
      Number                               Description
-----------------   -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>
       5.1          Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP regarding legality of the
                    Common Stock being registered

      23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

      23.2          Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (included in opinion filed as
                    Exhibit 5.1)

      24.1          Power of Attorney (see signature page)

      99.1          Advanced Digital Information Corporation 1999 Incentive
                    Compensation Plan


</TABLE>


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

A.       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act;

               (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement; and

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement.

         (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

         (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

B.       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefits plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

                                  II-2

<PAGE>

C.       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.






















                                  II-3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Redmond, State of Washington, on the
22nd day of May, 2000.


                                   ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION

                                   /s/   Peter H. van Oppen
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                   By:   Peter H. van Oppen
                                         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby
authorizes Peter H. van Oppen and Charles H. Stonecipher, or either of them,
as attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution, to execute in the name
and on the behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated
below, and to file, any and all post-effective amendments to this Registration
Statement.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated below on the 22nd day of May, 2000.



              SIGNATURE                                TITLE


      /s/ Peter H. van Oppen          Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
------------------------------------  the Board (Principal Executive Officer)
          Peter H. van Oppen


          /s/ Jon Gacek               Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
------------------------------------  Officer (Principal Financial and
              Jon Gacek               Accounting Officer)


        /s/ Tom A. Alberg             Director
------------------------------------
            Tom A. Alberg


    /s/ Christopher T. Bayley         Director
------------------------------------
        Christopher T. Bayley


     /s/ Richard L. McCormick         Director
------------------------------------
         Richard L. McCormick


       /s/ John W. Stanton            Director
------------------------------------
           John W. Stanton


       /s/ Walter F. Walker           Director
------------------------------------
           Walter F. Walker



                                  II-4

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Exhibit
      Number                               Description
------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>
       5.1          Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP regarding legality of the
                    Common Stock being registered

      23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

      23.2          Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (included in opinion filed as
                    Exhibit 5.1)

      24.1          Power of Attorney (see signature page)

      99.1          Advanced Digital Information Corporation 1999 Incentive
                    Compensation Plan


</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15501}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORP", "cik": "0000770403", "assigned-sic": "3577", "irs-number": "911618616", "state-of-incorporation": "WA", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-37546", "film-number": "641105"}, "business-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 97057", "street2": "11431 WILLOWS RD", "city": "REDMOND", "state": "WA", "zip": "98073-9757", "phone": "4258818004"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P.O. BOX 97057", "street2": "P O BOX 97057", "city": "REDMOND", "state": "WA", "zip": "98073-9757"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 22, 2000

                                                   REGISTRATION NO. 333-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ----------------------

                    ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           WASHINGTON                                          91-1618616
(State or other jurisdiction                                (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

                               11431 WILLOWS ROAD
                                 P.O. BOX 97507
                         REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98073-9757
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                    ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION
                        1999 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                               PETER H. VAN OPPEN
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                    ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION
                               11431 WILLOWS ROAD
                                 P.O. BOX 97507
                         REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98073-9757
                                 (425) 881-8004
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                             ----------------------
                                    COPY TO:

                               LINDA A. SCHOEMAKER
                                PERKINS COIE LLP
                          1201 THIRD AVENUE, 48TH FLOOR
                         SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101-3099
                                 (206) 583-8888

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------

                                                              PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF SECURITIES               AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE             AMOUNT OF
            TO BE REGISTERED                 REGISTERED(1)        PER SHARE         OFFERING PRICE      REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE SUBJECT TO          48,000           $33.625(2)        $1,614,000.00(2)         $426.10
 OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
 COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE, NOT SUBJECT      1,952,000          $14.375(3)       $28,060,000.00(3)        $7,407.84
 TO OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
    TOTAL                                     2,000,000                            $29,674,000.00          $7,833.94
------------------------------------------ ---------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
(1)      Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares which may
         be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance
         pursuant to the plan as the result of any future stock split, stock
         dividend or similar adjustment of the Registrant's outstanding Common
         Stock.

(2)      Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended. The proposed maximum offering price per share of $33.625
         represents the exercise price of currently outstanding options.

(3)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
         pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The
         calculation of the registration fee is based on a share price of
         $14.375, which was the average of the high and low sales prices for
         the common stock of the registrant on May 18, 2000.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:

               (a)    The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, filed on January 18, 2000, which contains
audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which such
statements have been filed;

               (b)    The description of the Registrant's Common Stock
contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on July
30, 1996 under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

               (c)    All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report
on Form 10-K referred to in (a) above.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that the securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters the securities covered
hereby then remaining unsold, shall also be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof commencing
on the respective dates on which such documents are filed.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Sections 23B.08.500 through 23B.08.600 of the Washington Business
Corporation Act authorize a court to award, or a corporation's board of
directors to grant, indemnification to directors and officers on terms
sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). Section 10 of the Registrant's Restated Bylaws provides for
indemnification of the Registrant's directors, officers, employees and agents
to the maximum extent permitted by Washington law.

         Section 23B.08.320 of the Washington Business Corporation Act
authorizes a corporation to limit a director's liability to the corporation or
its shareholders for monetary damages for acts or omissions as a director,
except in certain circumstances involving intentional misconduct, self-dealing
or illegal corporate loans or distributions, or any transactions from which
the director personally receives a benefit in money, property or services to
which the director is not entitled. Article 11 of the Registrant's Restated
Articles of Incorporation contains provisions implementing, to the fullest
extent permitted by Washington law, such limitations on a director's liability
to the Registrant and its shareholders.

         The Registrant also maintains an insurance policy insuring its
directors and officers against liability for certain acts or omissions while
acting in their official capacities.

                                  II-1
ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS
Exhibit
      Number                               Description
-----------------   -----------------------------------------------------------
5.1          Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP regarding legality of the
                    Common Stock being registered

      23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

      23.2          Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (included in opinion filed as
                    Exhibit 5.1)

      24.1          Power of Attorney (see signature page)

      99.1          Advanced Digital Information Corporation 1999 Incentive
                    Compensation Plan
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

A.       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act;

               (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement; and

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement.

         (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

         (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

B.       The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefits plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

                                  II-2
C.       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                  II-3
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Redmond, State of Washington, on the
22nd day of May, 2000.

                                   ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION

                                   /s/   Peter H. van Oppen
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                   By:   Peter H. van Oppen
                                         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby
authorizes Peter H. van Oppen and Charles H. Stonecipher, or either of them,
as attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution, to execute in the name
and on the behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated
below, and to file, any and all post-effective amendments to this Registration
Statement.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated below on the 22nd day of May, 2000.

              SIGNATURE                                TITLE

      /s/ Peter H. van Oppen          Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
------------------------------------  the Board (Principal Executive Officer)
          Peter H. van Oppen

          /s/ Jon Gacek               Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
------------------------------------  Officer (Principal Financial and
              Jon Gacek               Accounting Officer)

        /s/ Tom A. Alberg             Director
------------------------------------
            Tom A. Alberg

    /s/ Christopher T. Bayley         Director
------------------------------------
        Christopher T. Bayley

     /s/ Richard L. McCormick         Director
------------------------------------
         Richard L. McCormick

       /s/ John W. Stanton            Director
------------------------------------
           John W. Stanton

       /s/ Walter F. Walker           Director
------------------------------------
           Walter F. Walker

                                  II-4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
      Number                               Description
------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------
5.1          Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP regarding legality of the
                    Common Stock being registered

      23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

      23.2          Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (included in opinion filed as
                    Exhibit 5.1)

      24.1          Power of Attorney (see signature page)

      99.1          Advanced Digital Information Corporation 1999 Incentive
                    Compensation Plan