Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total HP Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Non-controlling Interests	Comprehensive Income
Balance at Oct. 31, 2009	$ 40,764	$ 40,517	$ 24	$ 13,804	$ 29,936	$ (3,247)	$ 247
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2009			2,364,809
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss (earnings)	8,761	8,761			8,761			8,761
Other comprehensive loss (income)	(590)	(590)				(590)		(590)
Comprehensive loss (income)	8,171	8,171						8,171
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other	2,607	2,607	1	2,606
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other (in shares)			80,335
Repurchases of common stock	(11,071)	(11,071)	(3)	(5,809)	(5,259)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(241,000)		(241,246)
Net excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	300	300		300
Cash dividends declared	(743)	(743)			(743)
Stock-based compensation expense	668	668		668
Changes in non-controlling interest	85						85
Balance at Oct. 31, 2010	40,781	40,449	22	11,569	32,695	(3,837)	332
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2010			2,203,898
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss (earnings)	7,074	7,074			7,074			7,074
Other comprehensive loss (income)	339	339				339		339
Comprehensive loss (income)	7,413	7,413						7,413
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other	752	752	1	751
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other (in shares)			45,461
Repurchases of common stock	(9,968)	(9,968)	(3)	(6,296)	(3,669)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(259,000)		(258,853)
Net excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	128	128		128
Cash dividends declared	(834)	(834)			(834)
Stock-based compensation expense	685	685		685
Changes in non-controlling interest	47						47
Balance at Oct. 31, 2011	39,004	38,625	20	6,837	35,266	(3,498)	379
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2011	1,991,000		1,990,506
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss (earnings)	(12,650)	(12,650)			(12,650)			(12,650)
Other comprehensive loss (income)	(2,061)	(2,061)				(2,061)		(2,061)
Comprehensive loss (income)	(14,711)	(14,711)						(14,711)
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other	683	683		682	1
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other (in shares)			39,068
Repurchases of common stock	(1,626)	(1,626)		(1,525)	(101)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(67,000)		(66,736)
Net excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	(175)	(175)		(175)
Cash dividends declared	(995)	(995)			(995)
Stock-based compensation expense	635	635		635
Changes in non-controlling interest	18						18
Balance at Oct. 31, 2012	$ 22,833	$ 22,436	$ 20	$ 6,454	$ 21,521	$ (5,559)	$ 397
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2012	1,963,000		1,962,838