Borrowings (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Long-term debt
Fair value adjustment related to hedged debt	$ 343	$ 399
Less: current portion	(5,656)	(5,744)
Total long-term debt	21,752	21,789
U.S. Dollar Global Notes
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	25,031	25,031
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.694% in February 2007 at 5.4%, due March 2017
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	499	499
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.694%	99.694%
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.40%	5.40%
Face amount of debt instrument	500	500
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.921% in March 2008 at 4.5%, paid March 2013
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,500	1,500
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.921%	99.921%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.50%	4.50%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,500	1,500
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$750 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.932% in March 2008 at 5.5%, due March 2018
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	750	750
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.932%	99.932%
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.50%	5.50%
Face amount of debt instrument	750	750
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$2,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.561% in December 2008 at 6.125%, due March 2014
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,998	1,998
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.561%	99.561%
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%	6.125%
Face amount of debt instrument	2,000	2,000
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.993% in February 2009 at 4.75%, due June 2014
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,500	1,500
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.993%	99.993%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.75%	4.75%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,500	1,500
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,100 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.921% in September 2010 at 1.25% due September 2013
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,100	1,100
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.921%	99.921%
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.25%	1.25%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,100	1,100
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,100 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.887% in September 2010 at 2.125% due September 2015
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,100	1,100
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.887%	99.887%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.125%	2.125%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,100	1,100
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$650 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.911% in December 2010 at 2.2% due December 2015
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	650	650
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.911%	99.911%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.20%	2.20%
Face amount of debt instrument	650	650
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,350 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.827% in December 2010 at 3.75% due December 2020
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,348	1,348
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.827%	99.827%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.75%	3.75%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,350	1,350
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,750 issued at par in May 2011 at three month USD LIBOR plus 0.28%, due May 2013
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,750	1,750
Face amount of debt instrument	1,750	1,750
Reference interest rate	three-month USD LIBOR	three-month USD LIBOR
Spread on reference interest rate (as a percent)	0.28%	0.28%
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$500 issued at par in May 2011 at three month USD LIBOR plus 0.4%, due May 2014
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	500	500
Face amount of debt instrument	500	500
Reference interest rate	three-month USD LIBOR	three-month USD LIBOR
Spread on reference interest rate (as a percent)	0.40%	0.40%
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.971% in May 2011 at 1.55%, due May 2014
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	500	500
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.971%	99.971%
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.55%	1.55%
Face amount of debt instrument	500	500
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.958% in May 2011 at 2.65%, due June 2016
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,000	1,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.958%	99.958%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.65%	2.65%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,000	1,000
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,250 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.799% in May 2011 at 4.3%, due June 2021
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,248	1,248
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.799%	99.799%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.30%	4.30%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,250	1,250
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$750 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.977% in September 2011 at 2.35%, due March 2015
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	750	750
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.977%	99.977%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.35%	2.35%
Face amount of debt instrument	750	750
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,300 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.784% in September 2011 at 3.0%, due September 2016
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,298	1,298
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.784%	99.784%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,300	1,300
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.816% in September 2011 at 4.375%, due September 2021
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	998	998
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.816%	99.816%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.375%	4.375%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,000	1,000
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,200 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.863% in September 2011 at 6.0% due September 2041
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,198	1,198
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.863%	99.863%
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,200	1,200
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$350 issued at par in September 2011 at three month USD LIBOR plus 1.55%, due September 2014
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	350	350
Face amount of debt instrument	350	350
Reference interest rate	three-month USD LIBOR	three-month USD LIBOR
Spread on reference interest rate (as a percent)	1.55%	1.55%
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$650 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.946% in December 2011 at 2.625%, due December 2014
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	650	650
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.946%	99.946%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.625%	2.625%
Face amount of debt instrument	650	650
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$850 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.790% in December 2011 at 3.3%, due December 2016
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	849	849
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.79%	99.79%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.30%	3.30%
Face amount of debt instrument	850	850
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.707% in December 2011 at 4.65%, due December 2021
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,496	1,496
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.707%	99.707%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.65%	4.65%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,500	1,500
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.985% in March 2012 at 2.6%, due September 2017
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,500	1,500
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.985%	99.985%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.60%	2.60%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,500	1,500
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.771% in March 2012 at 4.05%, due September 2022
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	499	499
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.771%	99.771%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.05%	4.05%
Face amount of debt instrument	500	500
EDS Senior Notes
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,420	1,423
EDS Senior Notes-$1,100 issued June 2003 at 6.0%, due August 2013
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	1,106	1,109
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,100	1,100
EDS Senior Notes-$300 issued October 1999 at 7.45%, due October 2029
Long-term debt
Balance outstanding	314	314
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.45%	7.45%
Face amount of debt instrument	300	300
Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.60%-8.63%, due in calendar years 2013-2024
Long-term debt
Other, including capital lease obligations	614	680
Minimum interest rate (as a percent)	0.60%	0.60%
Maximum interest rate (as a percent)	8.63%	8.63%
Borrowings collateralized by certain financing receivable assets	$ 221