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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WVij0q8I6vdhLOnpe1Kki1Bn/KyeVtpyC0jbZUBWStup+8VjVpHCn2dKJ7in26fO
 9FGGYlf1qJumNoRLIZ/Tlg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001088033-03-000052.txt : 20030909
<SEC-HEADER>0001088033-03-000052.hdr.sgml : 20030909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030909212907
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001088033-03-000052
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030908
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030909

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUEST SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001088033
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				330231678
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9497548000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOYLE DAVID M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106661

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26937
		FILM NUMBER:		03888909

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9497548000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-08</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001088033</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUEST SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QSFT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106661</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOYLE DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O QUEST SOFTWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92618</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Futures Contract (obligation to sell)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>45800</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-09-07</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-09-
07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>45800</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>45800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Mr. Doyle entered into a pre-paid variable delivery forward contract relating to 45,800 shares (the &quot;Number of Shares&quot;) of the issuer's common stock (&quot;Common Stock&quot;). In exchange for a cash payment of $512,545.97, Mr. Doyle agreed to deliver a number of shares of Common Stock in September 2005 (subject to earlier termination) pursuant to the following formula: (i) if the price of Common Stock in September 2005 (the &quot
;Settlement Value&quot;) is less than or equal to $12.56 (the &quot;Floor&quot;), the Number of Shares; (ii) if the Settlement Value is less than or equal to $15.072 (the &quot;Threshold&quot;), but greater than the Floor, then a number of shares equal to the Number of Shares multiplied by the Floor divided by the Settlement Value; and (iii) if the Settlement Value is greater than the Threshold, then such number of shares as determined by a formula set forth in the contract. </footnote><footnote id="F2">Alternatively, Mr. Doyle may settle the contract for an amount of cash equal to the number of shares to be delivered multiplied by the Settlement Value.</footnote><footnote id="F3">This transaction was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on December 10, 2002.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>J. Michael Vaughn, Attorney-in-Fact for David M. Doyle</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument
>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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