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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                December 3, 1997



(714) 451-3800                                                     C96182-00002


Western Digital Corporation
8105 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA  92618

        Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-8 for $40,000,000
               in Deferred Compensation Obligations

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by Western Digital Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act") of $40,000,000 in Deferred Compensation Obligations (the
"Obligations"), which will represent unsecured obligations of the Company to pay
deferred compensation in the future, pursuant to the Company's Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

        For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have made such legal and
factual examinations as we have deemed necessary under the circumstances and, as
part of such examination, we have examined, among other things, originals and
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such
documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary
or appropriate. For the purposes of such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to
original documents of all copies submitted to us.

On the basis of and in reliance upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that
assuming the Registration Statement shall have become effective pursuant to the
provisions of the Securities Act, the Obligations, when issued in accordance
with the provisions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and will be binding obligations of the Company, subject, as


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Western Digital Corporation
December 3, 1997
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to enforcement, to (i) bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and
other similar laws and court decisions of general application, including without
limitation, statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent or preferential
transfers, relating to, limiting or affecting the enforcement of creditor's
rights generally, and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity upon the
specific enforceability of any of the remedies, covenants or other provisions of
the Plan and upon the availability of injunctive relief or other equitable
remedies and the application of principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is considered in proceedings at law or in equity) as such principles
relate to, limit or affect the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

DW/LRO/sp


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