EXHIBIT (a)(5)

Western Digital contacts:
Steve Shattuck
Press Relations
949.672.7817
steve.shattuck@wdc.com

Bob Blair
Investor Relations
949.672.7834
robert.blair@wdc.com

     WESTERN DIGITAL OFFERS TO PURCHASE ZERO COUPON CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED
                          DEBENTURES DUE 2018 FOR CASH

LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Jan. 17, 2003 - Western Digital Corp. (NYSE: WDC) today
announced that holders of Zero Coupon Convertible Subordinated Debentures due
2018 issued by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
("WDT"), have the right to surrender their debentures for purchase by WDT as of
today. Under the terms of the debentures, each holder has the right to require
WDT to redeem on Feb. 18, 2003 all or a part of such holder's debentures at a
price equal to the issue price plus the accrued original issue discount. As of
Feb. 18, 2003, the price to be paid by WDT for debentures validly surrendered
and not withdrawn will be $459.64 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity. The
debentures surrendered for purchase by WDT must be in the principal amount of
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Under the terms of the debentures, WDT
has the option to pay for the surrendered debentures with cash, Western Digital
common stock, or a combination of cash and stock. WDT has elected to pay for the
debentures solely with cash on-hand. If all outstanding debentures are
surrendered for purchase, the aggregate cash purchase price will be
approximately $74,000,000. At the end of

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Western Digital Offers to Purchase Zero Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Debentures Due 2018 For Cash
Page 2

its first fiscal quarter ending Sept. 27, 2002, Western Digital had $244,400,000
in cash on its balance sheet.

      The right to surrender debentures for purchase expires at 5 p.m. New York
City time Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003. To surrender debentures, a purchase notice
must generally be delivered to U.S. Bank, N.A., the paying agent for the
redemption. Holders of debentures complying with the transmittal procedures of
the Depository Trust Company need not submit a physical purchase notice to U.S.
Bank, N.A. Holders may withdraw any debentures previously surrendered for
purchase at any time prior to 5 p.m., New York City time Feb. 18, 2003.

      A Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO relating to the redemption will be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") later today. The
Schedule TO will include information on the terms, conditions and procedures for
surrendering for purchase and withdrawing debentures. These documents will also
be made available to debenture holders through the Depository Trust Company.
Debenture holders can also obtain free copies of these documents through the Web
site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, or from Western Digital by contacting
Western Digital Investor Relations at (800) 695-6399. Debenture holders are
encouraged to read these documents carefully before making any decision with
respect to the surrender of debentures, because these documents contain
important information regarding the details of WDT's obligation to purchase the
debentures.

      As of Jan. 16, 2003 there was $160,897,000 in principal amount at maturity
of debentures outstanding. The debentures are convertible into shares of Western
Digital common stock. As of Jan. 17, 2003 the conversion rate of the debentures
is 14.935 shares of Western Digital common stock per $1,000 principal amount at
maturity of the debentures.

Western Digital Offers to Purchase Zero Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Debentures Due 2018 For Cash
Page 3

      This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of
an offer to sell securities and no recommendation is made as to whether or not
holders of debentures should surrender their debentures for purchase. The offer
is made only by the Company Notice dated Jan. 17, 2003 and related documents (as
they may be amended from time to time), being filed with the SEC as exhibits to
the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO.

ABOUT WESTERN DIGITAL

      Western Digital, one of the storage industry's pioneers and long-time
leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that
collect, manage and use digital information. The Company produces reliable,
high-performance hard drives that keep users' data close-at-hand and secure from
loss.

      Western Digital was founded in 1970. The Company's storage products are
marketed to leading systems manufacturers and selected resellers under the
Western Digital brand name. Visit the Investor section of the Company's Web site
(www.westerndigital.com ) to access a variety of financial and investor
information.

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Western Digital and the Western Digital logo are registered trademarks of
Western Digital Technologies, Inc.