SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012		Nov. 30, 2011		Nov. 30, 2012		Nov. 30, 2011
Revenues Included for Management Reporting Not Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations (Narrative) [Abstract]
New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues	$ 12	[1]			$ 31	[1]
Software license updates and product support revenues	4	[1]	10	[1]	8	[1]	24	[1]
Hardware systems support revenues	3	[1]	9	[1]	8	[1]	19	[1]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	9,113	[2]	8,811	[2]	17,322	[2]	17,209	[2]
Expenses	3,250		3,340		6,274		6,682
Margin	5,863	[3]	5,471	[3]	11,048	[3]	10,527	[3]
New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,398	[2]	2,044	[2]	3,987	[2]	3,537	[2]
Sales and distribution expenses	1,263		1,174		2,341		2,318
Margin	1,135	[3]	870	[3]	1,646	[3]	1,219	[3]
Software license updates and product support [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,264	[2]	3,996	[2]	8,408	[2]	8,032	[2]
Software license updates and product support expenses	276		268		545		542
Margin	3,988	[3]	3,728	[3]	7,863	[3]	7,490	[3]
Total software business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,662	[2]	6,040	[2]	12,395	[2]	11,569	[2]
Expenses	1,539		1,442		2,886		2,860
Margin	5,123	[3]	4,598	[3]	9,509	[3]	8,709	[3]
Hardware systems products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	734		953		1,513		1,981
Hardware systems products expenses	366		468		750		941
Sales and distribution expenses	213		271		431		537
Margin	155	[3]	214	[3]	332	[3]	503	[3]
Hardware systems support [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	590	[2]	634	[2]	1,169	[2]	1,290	[2]
Hardware systems support expenses	222		248		435		520
Margin	368	[3]	386	[3]	734	[3]	770	[3]
Total hardware systems business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,324	[2]	1,587	[2]	2,682	[2]	3,271	[2]
Expenses	801		987		1,616		1,998
Margin	523	[3]	600	[3]	1,066	[3]	1,273	[3]
Total services business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,127	[2]	1,184	[2]	2,245	[2]	2,369	[2]
Services expenses	910		911		1,772		1,824
Margin	$ 217	[3]	$ 273	[3]	$ 473	[3]	$ 545	[3]

[1] New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues for management reporting included revenues related to cloud software subscriptions contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $12 million and $31 million for the three and six months ended November 30, 2012, respectively. Software license updates and product support revenues for management reporting included revenues related to software support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $4 million and $10 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $8 million and $24 million for the six months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, we did not recognize hardware systems support revenues related to hardware systems support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities in the amounts of $3 million and $9 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $8 million and $19 million for the six months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[2] Operating segment revenues generally differ from the external reporting classifications due to certain software license products that are classified as service revenues for management reporting purposes. New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues for management reporting included revenues related to cloud software subscriptions contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $12 million and $31 million for the three and six months ended November 30, 2012, respectively. Software license updates and product support revenues for management reporting included revenues related to software support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $4 million and $10 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $8 million and $24 million for the six months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, we did not recognize hardware systems support revenues related to hardware systems support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities in the amounts of $3 million and $9 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $8 million and $19 million for the six months ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 8 for an explanation of these adjustments and the table below for a reconciliation of our total operating segment revenues to our total revenues.

[3] The margins reported reflect only the direct controllable costs of each line of business and do not include allocations of product development, information technology, marketing and partner programs and corporate and general and administrative expenses. Additionally, the margins do not reflect amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related and other expenses, restructuring expenses, stock-based compensation, interest expense or certain other expenses, net.