-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TzKZwBAVCtVfZ/2Q5OmKnDKj4o+DnMleay+dn/wZPLawUAc/JVkDld0g/g1XZwwE
 q1oAOkcZuEMFUvXGQtvwxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000709283-04-000046.txt : 20040318
<SEC-HEADER>0000709283-04-000046.hdr.sgml : 20040318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040318150401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000709283-04-000046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040318
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040318

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHEELWRIGHT STEVEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280075

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13449
		FILM NUMBER:		04677654

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SHAWN HALL
		STREET 2:		1650 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE SUITE 800
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089444000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUANTUM CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000709283
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICES [3572]
		IRS NUMBER:				942665054
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1650 TECHNOLOGY DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4088944000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1650 TECHNOLOGY DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000709283</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUANTUM CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280075</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHEELWRIGHT STEVEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O QUANTUM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1650 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>DSS Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3063</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3063</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Purchase Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3063</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>DSS Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3063</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rita Larsen by Rita Larsen, Attorney in Fact for Steven Wheelwright</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----