CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 462	$ 401	$ 549
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	246	253	384
Accelerated amortization of interest rate swap gain (due to early redemption of debt)	0	0	(22)
Share-based compensation	58	54	96
Deferred taxes	3	70	(192)
Excess and obsolete inventory and inventory related charges	20	30	79
Non-cash restructuring and asset impairment charges	4	3	23
Impairment of equity method investments and loans	25	0	0
Net gain on sale of investments	(1)	0	(1)
Net (gain) loss on sale of assets and divestitures	(1)	3	(10)
Other	17	13	10
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(33)	(24)	(119)
Inventory	(7)	(24)	(99)
Accounts payable	(15)	(26)	50
Employee compensation and benefits	15	8	9
interest rate swap payments	(10)	0	0
Other assets and liabilities	10	(249)	(26)
Net cash provided by operating activities	793	512	731
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in property, plant and equipment	(139)	(98)	(205)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	0	12	14
Proceeds from the sale of investment securities	1	0	1
Proceeds from divestitures	0	3	2
Payment to acquire cost method investment	(80)	0	0
Payment to acquire equity method investment	0	(1)	(25)
Payment in exchange for convertible note	(1)	(2)	0
Loan to equity method investment	(3)	0	0
Change in restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments, net	245	(240)	(4)
Acquisitions of businesses and intangible assets, net of cash acquired	(261)	(74)	(13)
Net cash used in investing activities	(238)	(400)	(230)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans	62	58	188
Payment of taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards	(6)	(13)	(19)
Treasury stock repurchases	(434)	(267)	(200)
Payment of dividends	(150)	(133)	(176)
Issuance of senior notes	299	0	1,099
Debt issuance costs	(2)	0	(9)
Repayments of senior notes	0	0	(1,000)
Proceeds from debts and credit facility	255	0	87
Repayments of debt and credit facility	(292)	0	(87)
Net transfer of cash and cash equivalents to Keysight	0	(734)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(268)	(1,089)	(117)
Effect of exchange rate movements	(1)	(48)	(31)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	286	(1,025)	353
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		3,028	2,675
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	2,003
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year			3,028
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	2,289	2,003
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Income tax payments, net	67	129	131
Interest payments	73	71	142
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		810
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year			810
Continuing Operations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Excess and obsolete inventory and inventory related charges	$ 20	30	46
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		$ 2,218
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year			$ 2,218