Page 1 of 11
                                                                               
                                                      Registration No. 33-42818
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549
                                   FORM S-8
                          POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                       UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                                                               
                                       
                        STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                      ----------------------------------                       
              (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
                                                                               
                                                                               
           Delaware                                       84-0593263           
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)                                                 
                                                                               
2270 South 88th Street, Louisville, Colorado                         80028-4309
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                             (Zip Code)
                                                                               
                       1987 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                     -------------------------------------                     
                           (Full title of the Plan)
                                                                               
                           Lizbeth J. Stenmark, Esq.
                                Senior Counsel
                        Storage Technology Corporation
                            2270 South 88th Street
                       Louisville, Colorado  80028-4309
                   -----------------------------------------                   
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                                                               
                                (303) 673-7919
                             --------------------                              
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                                                               
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                                                                               
Title of                               Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum    
Securities to      Amount to           Offering Price      Aggregate Amount    
be Registered(1)   be Registered (2)   Per Share (3)       of Offering Price(4)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common stock                                                                   
$.10 par value     1,750,000           $33.00              $49,087,500         
                                                                               
Amount of                                                                      
Registration                                                                   
Fee                                                                            
- -------------                                                                  
$16,926.72                                                                     
                                                                               
(1)  Includes preferred stock purchase rights issued in connection therewith.  
                                                                               
(2)  These shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to, the above-referenced 
stock purchase plan (the "Plan").  The additional shares of Common Stock that 
may become available for purchase in accordance with the provisions of the Plan
in the event of certain changes in the outstanding shares of Common Stock of 
Storage Technology Corporation, including, among other things, stock dividends,
stock splits, reverse stock splits, reorganizations and recapitalizations, are 
also being registered.                                                         
                                                                               
(3)  Determined pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, based on the aggregate contributions of employees and the average of 
the high and low prices of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock 
Exchange composite tape on July 16, 1996.                                      

(4)  Constitutes 85% of the market value.


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 2 of 11
                                                                               
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this 
registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be 
offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.        
                                                                               


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 3 of 11
                                                                               
                    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
       The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration Nos. 
2-80183, 33-32243 and 33-42818, as amended, dated August 7, 1987, March 22, 
1989 and September 18, 1991, respectively, are hereby incorporated by 
reference.                                                                     
                                ---------------


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 4 of 11
                                                                               
                                    PART II
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS
                                                                               
                                                                               
         5.1             Opinion of Counsel                                    
                                                                               
         23.1            Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                       
                                                                               
         23.2            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                          
                                                                               
         23.3            Consent of Counsel                                    
                                                                               


<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 5 of 11
                                                                               
                                  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 Louisville, State of Colorado, on the 19th day 
of July 1996.                                                                  
                                                                               
                                  STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                  By  /s/ David E. Weiss                       
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      David E. Weiss                           
                                      Chairman of the Board, President         
                                      and Chief Executive Officer              
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this 
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the 
capacities and on the dates indicated:                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
(a)  /s/ David E. Weiss                                                        
     ---------------------       Chairman of the Board            July 19, 1996
     David E. Weiss              (Director) President                          
                                 and Chief Executive Officer                   
                                 (Principal Executive Officer)                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
(b)  /s/ David E. Lacey                                                        
     ---------------------       Executive Vice President         July 19, 1996
     David E. Lacey              Chief Financial Officer                       
                                 (Principal Financial Officer and              
                                 Principal Accounting Officer)                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 6 of 11
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
     Signature                     Title                     Date              
     ---------                     -----                     ----              
                                                                               
                                                                               
- ------------------                Director                
Judith E.N. Albino                                                             
                                                                               
/s/ William L. Armstrong *                                                     
- ------------------------          Director                July 19, 1996        
William L. Armstrong                                                           
                                                                               
/s/ Robert A. Burgin *                                                         
- --------------------              Director                July 19, 1996        
Robert A. Burgin                                                               
                                                                               
/s/ Paul Friedman *                                                            
- -----------------                 Director                July 19, 1996        
Paul Friedman                                                                  
                                                                               
- -----------------                 Director                
William R. Hoover                                                              
                                                                               
/s/ Stephen J. Keane *                                                         
- --------------------              Director                July 19, 1996        
Stephen J. Keane                                                               
                                                                               
/s/ Robert E. LaBlanc *                                                        
- ---------------------             Director                July 19, 1996        
Robert E. LaBlanc                                                              
                                                                               
- -------------                     Director                
Robert E. Lee                                                                  
                                                                               
/s/ Harrison Shull *                                                           
- ------------------                Director                July 19, 1996        
Harrison Shull                                                                 
                                                                               
/s/ Richard C. Steadman *                                                      
- -----------------------           Director                July 19, 1996        
Richard C. Steadman                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
*  By:   /s/ W. Russell Wayman                                                 
         ----------------------------------------                              
         W. Russell Wayman, Attorney-in-fact

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 7 of 11
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Human 
Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Storage 
Technology Corporation, as the administrator of the 1987 Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan, has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its 
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of 
Louisville, State of Colorado, on the 19th day of July 1996.                   
                                                                               
STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION                                                 
1987 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
By:   /s/ Laurie Dodd                                                          
    ----------------------------------------                                   
      Laurie Dodd                                                              
      Corporate Vice President, Human Resources Development

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                                   Page 8 of 11
                                                                               
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                Sequential     
 Exhibit                      Description                       Page Number    
 -------                      -----------                       -----------    
                                                                               
                                                                               
5.1              Opinion of Counsel                              9             
                                                                               
23.1             Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                10             
                                                                               
23.2             Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                   11             
                                                                               
23.3             Consent of Counsel is included in Exhibit 5.1                 
                                                                               
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18394}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP", "cik": "0000094673", "assigned-sic": "3572", "irs-number": "840593263", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1229"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-08495", "film-number": "96596996"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2270 S 88TH ST", "city": "LOUISVILLE", "state": "CO", "zip": "80028-4306", "phone": "3036735151"}}
Page 1 of 11
                                                                               
                                                      Registration No. 33-42818
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549
                                   FORM S-8
                          POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                       UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                                                               
                                       
                        STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                      ----------------------------------                       
              (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)
                                                                               
                                                                               
           Delaware                                       84-0593263           
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)                                                 
                                                                               
2270 South 88th Street, Louisville, Colorado                         80028-4309
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                             (Zip Code)
                                                                               
                       1987 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                     -------------------------------------                     
                           (Full title of the Plan)
                                                                               
                           Lizbeth J. Stenmark, Esq.
                                Senior Counsel
                        Storage Technology Corporation
                            2270 South 88th Street
                       Louisville, Colorado  80028-4309
                   -----------------------------------------                   
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                                                               
                                (303) 673-7919
                             --------------------                              
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                                                               
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                                                                               
Title of                               Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum    
Securities to      Amount to           Offering Price      Aggregate Amount    
be Registered(1)   be Registered (2)   Per Share (3)       of Offering Price(4)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common stock                                                                   
$.10 par value     1,750,000           $33.00              $49,087,500         
                                                                               
Amount of                                                                      
Registration                                                                   
Fee                                                                            
- -------------                                                                  
$16,926.72                                                                     
                                                                               
(1)  Includes preferred stock purchase rights issued in connection therewith.  
                                                                               
(2)  These shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to, the above-referenced 
stock purchase plan (the "Plan").  The additional shares of Common Stock that 
may become available for purchase in accordance with the provisions of the Plan
in the event of certain changes in the outstanding shares of Common Stock of 
Storage Technology Corporation, including, among other things, stock dividends,
stock splits, reverse stock splits, reorganizations and recapitalizations, are 
also being registered.                                                         
                                                                               
(3)  Determined pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, based on the aggregate contributions of employees and the average of 
the high and low prices of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock 
Exchange composite tape on July 16, 1996.                                      

(4)  Constitutes 85% of the market value.
Page 2 of 11
                                                                               
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this 
registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be 
offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.
Page 3 of 11
                                                                               
                    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
       The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration Nos. 
2-80183, 33-32243 and 33-42818, as amended, dated August 7, 1987, March 22, 
1989 and September 18, 1991, respectively, are hereby incorporated by 
reference.                                                                     
                                ---------------
Page 4 of 11
                                                                               
                                    PART II
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS
                                                                               
                                                                               
         5.1             Opinion of Counsel                                    
                                                                               
         23.1            Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                       
                                                                               
         23.2            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                          
                                                                               
         23.3            Consent of Counsel
Page 5 of 11
                                                                               
                                  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 Louisville, State of Colorado, on the 19th day 
of July 1996.                                                                  
                                                                               
                                  STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                  By  /s/ David E. Weiss                       
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      David E. Weiss                           
                                      Chairman of the Board, President         
                                      and Chief Executive Officer              
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this 
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the 
capacities and on the dates indicated:                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
(a)  /s/ David E. Weiss                                                        
     ---------------------       Chairman of the Board            July 19, 1996
     David E. Weiss              (Director) President                          
                                 and Chief Executive Officer                   
                                 (Principal Executive Officer)                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
(b)  /s/ David E. Lacey                                                        
     ---------------------       Executive Vice President         July 19, 1996
     David E. Lacey              Chief Financial Officer                       
                                 (Principal Financial Officer and              
                                 Principal Accounting Officer)
Page 6 of 11
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
     Signature                     Title                     Date              
     ---------                     -----                     ----              
                                                                               
                                                                               
- ------------------                Director                
Judith E.N. Albino                                                             
                                                                               
/s/ William L. Armstrong *                                                     
- ------------------------          Director                July 19, 1996        
William L. Armstrong                                                           
                                                                               
/s/ Robert A. Burgin *                                                         
- --------------------              Director                July 19, 1996        
Robert A. Burgin                                                               
                                                                               
/s/ Paul Friedman *                                                            
- -----------------                 Director                July 19, 1996        
Paul Friedman                                                                  
                                                                               
- -----------------                 Director                
William R. Hoover                                                              
                                                                               
/s/ Stephen J. Keane *                                                         
- --------------------              Director                July 19, 1996        
Stephen J. Keane                                                               
                                                                               
/s/ Robert E. LaBlanc *                                                        
- ---------------------             Director                July 19, 1996        
Robert E. LaBlanc                                                              
                                                                               
- -------------                     Director                
Robert E. Lee                                                                  
                                                                               
/s/ Harrison Shull *                                                           
- ------------------                Director                July 19, 1996        
Harrison Shull                                                                 
                                                                               
/s/ Richard C. Steadman *                                                      
- -----------------------           Director                July 19, 1996        
Richard C. Steadman                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
*  By:   /s/ W. Russell Wayman                                                 
         ----------------------------------------                              
         W. Russell Wayman, Attorney-in-fact
Page 7 of 11
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Human 
Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Storage 
Technology Corporation, as the administrator of the 1987 Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan, has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its 
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of 
Louisville, State of Colorado, on the 19th day of July 1996.                   
                                                                               
STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION                                                 
1987 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
By:   /s/ Laurie Dodd                                                          
    ----------------------------------------                                   
      Laurie Dodd                                                              
      Corporate Vice President, Human Resources Development
Page 8 of 11
                                                                               
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                Sequential     
 Exhibit                      Description                       Page Number    
 -------                      -----------                       -----------    
                                                                               
                                                                               
5.1              Opinion of Counsel                              9             
                                                                               
23.1             Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP                10             
                                                                               
23.2             Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                   11             
                                                                               
23.3             Consent of Counsel is included in Exhibit 5.1