<PAGE>   1

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 1997

                                                    Registration No. 33-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549 

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

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

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

           DELAWARE                                          95-2647125
  (State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer 
  incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

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

                            8105 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE,
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618
                                 (714) 932-5000
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

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

                          WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
                           EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                       1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              (Full Title of Plan)

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

                              MICHAEL A. CORNELIUS
                            8105 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
                           IRVINE, CALIFORNIA  92718
                                 (714) 932-5000
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=====================================================================================================
                                                   PROPOSED            PROPOSED
                                                   MAXIMUM             MAXIMUM
                                AMOUNT             OFFERING            AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES              TO BE             PRICE PER           OFFERING        REGISTRATION
TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED          SHARE(1)            PRICE(1)           FEE(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>                     <C>               <C>               <C>
COMMON STOCK, $.10 
 PAR VALUE(3)                 4,750,000             $70.44            $334,590,000        $115,376
                             shares(4)(5)
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>


                                       1
<PAGE>   2
       (1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of
the Company's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 21, 1997.

       (2)  Based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the
Company's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 21, 1997 (see
footnote (1) above).  

       (3)  This Registration Statement includes associated stock purchase
rights under the Rights Agreement dated as of December 1, 1988, as amended,
between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights
Agent.  

       (4)  Represents a 4,000,000 share increase in the number of shares
authorized for issuance under the Company's Employee Stock Option Plan, and a
750,000 share increase in the number of shares authorized for issuance under the
Company's 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  

       (5)  There is also being registered hereunder such additional
undetermined number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued as a result of
anti-dilutive adjustments pursuant to the Employee Stock Option Plan and 1993
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                                  INTRODUCTION

        This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Western Digital
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (the "Company") relating to an additional
4,750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.10 per share (the
"Common Stock"), 4,000,000 shares issuable under the Company's Employee Stock
Option Plan and 750,000 shares issuable under the Company's 1993 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, and consists of only those items required by General Instruction
E to Form S-8.

                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

        Pursuant to the instructions to Form S-8, Part I (Information Required 
in the Section 10(a) Prospectus) is not filed as part of this Registration 
Statement.

                                    PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

        In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-57953,
previously filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 6, 1995, and the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8,
Registration No. 33-51725, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 28, 1993, are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

        Pursuant to General Instruction E, only those opinions and consents
required by Item 8 are provided, as follows.

Exhibit No.      Description
-----------      -----------

   5             Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality 
                 of the securities being registered.

  23.1           Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors.

  23.2           Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in 
                 Exhibit 5 hereto).

  24             Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for a 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 Irvine, State of California, on January 9, 1997.

                                      WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION


                                      By:  /s/ Charles A. Haggerty
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Charles A. Haggerty
                                           Chairman of the Board,
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
CHARLES A. HAGGERTY and DUSTON M. WILLIAMS his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, each acting alone, with full powers of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone,
with full powers and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Signature                           Title                       Date 
      ---------                           -----                       ----
<S>                       <C>                                    <C> 
/s/ Charles A. Haggerty         Chairman of the Board,           January 9, 1997
------------------------         President and Chief        
    Charles A. Haggerty           Executive Officer 
                             (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Duston M. Williams      Senior Vice President, Chief         January 9, 1997
------------------------    Financial Officer (Principal          
    Duston M. Williams    Financial and Accounting Officer)


/s/ James A. Abrahamson                Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    James A. Abrahamson


/s/ Peter D. Behrendt                  Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Peter D. Behrendt


                                       Director                      --------
------------------------                
    I.M. Booth


/s/ Irwin Federman                     Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Irwin Federman


/s/ Andre R. Horn                      Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Andre R. Horn
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     Signature                       Title                           Date
     ---------                       -----                           ----
<S>                                 <C>                         <C>
/s/ Anne O. Krueger                 Director                    January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Anne O. Krueger


/s/ Thomas E. Pardun                Director                    January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Thomas E. Pardun
</TABLE>



                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.         Description
-----------         -----------

   5                Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality 
                    of the securities being registered

  23.1              Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors

  23.2              Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in 
                    Exhibit 5 hereto).

  24                Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).




                                       6
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 FOR EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11094}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WESTERN DIGITAL CORP", "cik": "0000106040", "assigned-sic": "3572", "irs-number": "952647125", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-20359", "film-number": "97510354"}, "business-address": {"street1": "8105 IRVINE CENTER DR", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92718", "phone": "7149325000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "8105 IRVINE CENTER DR", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92718"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GENERAL DIGITAL CORP", "date-changed": "19730125"}}
1

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 1997

                                                    Registration No. 33-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549 

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

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

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

           DELAWARE                                          95-2647125
  (State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer 
  incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

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

                            8105 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE,
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618
                                 (714) 932-5000
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

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

                          WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
                           EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                       1993 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              (Full Title of Plan)

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

                              MICHAEL A. CORNELIUS
                            8105 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
                           IRVINE, CALIFORNIA  92718
                                 (714) 932-5000
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=====================================================================================================
                                                   PROPOSED            PROPOSED
                                                   MAXIMUM             MAXIMUM
                                AMOUNT             OFFERING            AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES              TO BE             PRICE PER           OFFERING        REGISTRATION
TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED          SHARE(1)            PRICE(1)           FEE(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON STOCK, $.10 
 PAR VALUE(3)                 4,750,000             $70.44            $334,590,000        $115,376
                             shares(4)(5)
=====================================================================================================
1
2
       (1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of
the Company's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 21, 1997.

       (2)  Based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the
Company's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 21, 1997 (see
footnote (1) above).  

       (3)  This Registration Statement includes associated stock purchase
rights under the Rights Agreement dated as of December 1, 1988, as amended,
between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights
Agent.  

       (4)  Represents a 4,000,000 share increase in the number of shares
authorized for issuance under the Company's Employee Stock Option Plan, and a
750,000 share increase in the number of shares authorized for issuance under the
Company's 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  

       (5)  There is also being registered hereunder such additional
undetermined number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued as a result of
anti-dilutive adjustments pursuant to the Employee Stock Option Plan and 1993
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

                                       2
3
                                  INTRODUCTION

        This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Western Digital
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (the "Company") relating to an additional
4,750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.10 per share (the
"Common Stock"), 4,000,000 shares issuable under the Company's Employee Stock
Option Plan and 750,000 shares issuable under the Company's 1993 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, and consists of only those items required by General Instruction
E to Form S-8.

                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

        Pursuant to the instructions to Form S-8, Part I (Information Required 
in the Section 10(a) Prospectus) is not filed as part of this Registration 
Statement.

                                    PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

        In accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-57953,
previously filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 6, 1995, and the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8,
Registration No. 33-51725, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 28, 1993, are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

        Pursuant to General Instruction E, only those opinions and consents
required by Item 8 are provided, as follows.

Exhibit No.      Description
-----------      -----------

   5             Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality 
                 of the securities being registered.

  23.1           Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors.

  23.2           Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in 
                 Exhibit 5 hereto).

  24             Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

                                       3
4
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for a 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 Irvine, State of California, on January 9, 1997.

                                      WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

                                      By:  /s/ Charles A. Haggerty
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Charles A. Haggerty
                                           Chairman of the Board,
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
CHARLES A. HAGGERTY and DUSTON M. WILLIAMS his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, each acting alone, with full powers of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone,
with full powers and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the date indicated.
Signature                           Title                       Date 
      ---------                           -----                       ----
/s/ Charles A. Haggerty         Chairman of the Board,           January 9, 1997
------------------------         President and Chief        
    Charles A. Haggerty           Executive Officer 
                             (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Duston M. Williams      Senior Vice President, Chief         January 9, 1997
------------------------    Financial Officer (Principal          
    Duston M. Williams    Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ James A. Abrahamson                Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    James A. Abrahamson

/s/ Peter D. Behrendt                  Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Peter D. Behrendt

                                       Director                      --------
------------------------                
    I.M. Booth

/s/ Irwin Federman                     Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Irwin Federman

/s/ Andre R. Horn                      Director                  January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Andre R. Horn
4
5
Signature                       Title                           Date
     ---------                       -----                           ----
/s/ Anne O. Krueger                 Director                    January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Anne O. Krueger

/s/ Thomas E. Pardun                Director                    January 9, 1997
------------------------
    Thomas E. Pardun
5
6
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.         Description
-----------         -----------

   5                Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality 
                    of the securities being registered

  23.1              Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors

  23.2              Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in 
                    Exhibit 5 hereto).

  24                Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

                                       6