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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,
 L6V/uPmk3sjtjsCmZtUs/T62yUJi3pFpBURu4Hlye1ti41DF0IsuWJweG8L0HyFb
 l4PbWs8C69TmevP5TnUZLw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-07-001479.txt : 20070705
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-07-001479.hdr.sgml : 20070704
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070705180243
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-07-001479
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070625
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070705
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070705

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADAPTEC INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000709804
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3576]
		IRS NUMBER:				942748530
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		691 S MILPITAS BLVD
		STREET 2:		M/S25
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95035
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089458600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		691 SOUTH MILPITAS BLVD
		STREET 2:		M/S25
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95035

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOWARD JACK L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001144269

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15071
		FILM NUMBER:		07965815

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		182 FARMERS LANE
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			SANTA ROSA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95405
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>how28.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-06-25</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000709804</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADAPTEC INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADPT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001144269</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOWARD JACK L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STEEL PARTNERS II L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>590 MADISON AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See Explanation of Responses</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.001 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person is a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the Issuer's outstanding common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Jack L. Howard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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