Borrowings (Details 2) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 09, 2015
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 12,608,000,000	$ 15,103,000,000
Fair value adjustment related to hedged debt	103,000,000	(55,000,000)
Less: current portion	(2,776,000,000)	(161,000,000)
Interest expense on borrowings recognized in Combined Statements of Earnings
Financing interest	249,000,000	240,000,000	$ 277,000,000
Interest expense	328,000,000	29,000,000	45,000,000
Total interest expense	577,000,000	269,000,000	$ 322,000,000
Fixed rate notes				$ 14,000,000,000
Floating rate notes				$ 600,000,000
$2,250 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.944% in October 2015 at 2.45%, due October 5, 2017, interest payable semi-annually on April 5 and October 5 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 2,249,000,000	$ 2,249,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.944%	99.944%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.45%	2.45%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 2,250,000,000	$ 2,250,000,000
$2,650 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.872% in October 2015 at 2.85%, due October 5, 2018, interest payable semi-annually on April 5 and October 5 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 2,648,000,000	$ 2,647,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.872%	99.872%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.85%	2.85%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 2,650,000,000	$ 2,650,000,000
$3,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.972% in October 2015 at 3.6%, due October 15, 2020, interest payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 2,999,000,000	$ 2,999,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.972%	99.972%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.60%	3.60%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 3,000,000,000	$ 3,000,000,000
$1,350 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.802% in October 2015 at 4.4%, due October 15, 2022, interest payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 1,348,000,000	$ 1,347,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.802%	99.802%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.40%	4.40%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 1,350,000,000	$ 1,350,000,000
$2,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.725% in October 2015 at 4.9%, due October 15, 2025, interest payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 2,494,000,000	$ 2,493,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.725%	99.725%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.90%	4.90%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 2,500,000,000	$ 2,500,000,000
$750 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.942% in October 2015 at 6.2%, due October 15, 2035, interest payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 750,000,000	$ 749,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.942%	99.942%
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.20%	6.20%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 750,000,000	$ 750,000,000
$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.932% in October 2015 at 6.35%, due October 15, 2045, interest payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 1,499,000,000	$ 1,499,000,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.932%	99.932%
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.35%	6.35%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000
$350 issued at par in October 2015 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 1.74%, due October 5, 2017, interest payable quarterly on January 5, April 5, July 5 and October 5 of each year | LIBOR
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	350,000,000	350,000,000
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 350,000,000	$ 350,000,000
Spread on reference interest rate (as a percent)	1.74%	1.74%
$250 issued at par in October 2015 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 1.93%, due October 5, 2018, interest payable quarterly on January 5, April 5, July 5 and October 5 of each year | LIBOR
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.93%	1.93%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
$300 issued October 1999 at 7.45%, due October 2029
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 312,000,000	$ 313,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.45%	7.45%
Face amount of debt instrument	$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.00%-7.45%, due in calendar years 2016-2022(2)
Long-term debt
Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.00%-7.45%, due in calendar years 2016-2022(2)	$ 382,000,000	$ 423,000,000
Minimum interest rate (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Maximum interest rate (as a percent)	7.45%	7.45%
Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.00%-7.45%, due in calendar years 2016-2022(2) | Financial Services
Long-term debt
Other, including capital lease obligations	$ 181,000,000	$ 196,000,000
MphasiS
Long-term debt
Total long-term debt	$ 40,000,000