Taxes on Earnings - Provision for Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Provision For Taxes [Line Items]
Net income tax charges (benefits)	$ (72)	$ 301	$ (1,200)
Net tax charges (benefits) on restructuring and pension related costs	84	62	(33)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Acquisition Charges, Amount	45
Other tax benefit	13	70
Tax charges (benefits) related to state tax impacts or state rate changes	(22)		70
Income tax benefit for adjustments associated to uncertain tax positions	49	525
Net tax benefits related to the release of foreign valuation allowances		52
Retroactive research and development credit		41
Tax charges related to uncertain tax positions on pension transfers			449
Tax charge (benefit) related to other items			6
Excess tax benefits on stock options, restricted stock and performance share units,	19
Income tax benefits, reduced rates for subsidiaries in certain countries	$ 471	$ 341	$ 322
Income tax benefits, reduced rates for subsidiaries in certain countries (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.20	$ 0.18
U.S. Federal
Provision For Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax benefit related to provision to return adjustments	$ 12
Tax benefits due to release of valuation allowances			$ 1,700
State
Provision For Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax benefit related to provision to return adjustments	$ (11)