Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Total	$ 5,734	$ 5,861
Gross Unrealized Gain	66	70
Gross Unrealized Loss	(79)	(21)
Estimated Fair Value, Total	5,721	5,910
Total cash equivalents
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents	5,236	5,348
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents	5,236	5,348
Time deposits
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents	3,173	5,112
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents	3,173	5,112
Money market funds
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents	2,063	236
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents	2,063	236
Total debt securities
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments	385	399
Gross Unrealized Gain	65	66
Gross Unrealized Loss	(19)	(21)
Estimated Fair Value, Investments	431	444
Gross unrealized loss of debt securities in a continuous loss position for more than 12 months	19	21
Time deposits, debt securities
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments	8	8
Estimated Fair Value, Investments	8	8
Foreign bonds
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments	305	317
Gross Unrealized Gain	65	66
Estimated Fair Value, Investments	370	383
Corporate bonds and other debt securities
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments	72	74
Gross Unrealized Loss	(19)	(21)
Estimated Fair Value, Investments	53	53
Equity securities in public companies
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments	113	114
Gross Unrealized Gain	1	4
Gross Unrealized Loss	(60)
Estimated Fair Value, Investments	$ 54	$ 118

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This item represents the cost of cash equivalents and debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any.

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This item represents the fair value of cash equivalents and debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 19

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)

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This item represents the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for those securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

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This item represents the gross unrealized gains for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 22

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 13, 19

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

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- Definition

Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash equivalents may be reported as cash equivalents, while legally restricted equivalents held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular equivalents are not generally reported as part of unrestricted cash equivalents.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

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-Paragraph 8, 9

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

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