<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-26</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-09-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001302247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kelly Eric</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>691 S. MILPITAS BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILPITAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95035</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP/GM</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-09-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>345625</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-09-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>218704</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-07-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25162</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-07-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>49838</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Kelly held a total of 564,331 stock options with a grant date of 4/24/03. Because of IRS limitations on Incentive Stock Options, these options are split into Incentive and Non Qualified Stock Options, of which 345,625 are ISOs and 218,704 are NQs. The aggregate of these options vested 15% on the date of grant, 21.25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and the balance in equal installments on a monthly basis through 9/12/2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Kelly held a total of 75,000 stock options with a grant date of 7/26/2004. Because of IRS limitations on Incentive Stock Options, these options are split into Incentive and Non Qualified Stock Options, of which 25,162 are ISOs and 49,838 are NQs. The aggregate of these options vest 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and the balance in equal installments on a quarterly basis through 7/26/2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ERIC KELLY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

