Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Taxes
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	21.70%	19.40%
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%
Net tax (charge) benefit	$ (5,000,000)	$ 49,000,000
Tax benefits from restructuring and acquisition charges		28,000,000
Tax charges related to a past uncertain tax position	150,000,000
Estimated tax provisions of foreign jurisdictions	50,000,000
Estimated tax benefits associated with restructuring charges, various uncertain tax positions and valuation allowance adjustments	45,000,000
Tax benefit arising from the retroactive research and development credit	50,000,000
Net income tax benefit from reversals of accrued interest expense and penalties on uncertain tax positions, net of tax		23,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	2,800,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate if realized	1,600,000,000
Accrued income tax payable for interest and penalties	209,000,000
Net interest income on tax overpayments, net of tax	1,000,000
Income tax examination, likelihood of no resolution period	12 months
Income tax examination, likelihood of conclusion period	12 months
Reasonably possible, reduction in existing unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months	175,000,000
Classification of current and long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities
Current deferred tax assets	3,743,000,000		3,783,000,000
Current deferred tax liabilities	(263,000,000)		(230,000,000)
Long-term deferred tax assets	1,580,000,000		1,581,000,000
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(3,400,000,000)		(2,948,000,000)
Total deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities	$ 1,660,000,000		$ 2,186,000,000