Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013 segment	Apr. 30, 2013 segment	Oct. 31, 2012
Goodwill
Net balance at the beginning of the period	$ 31,069,000,000	$ 31,069,000,000
Goodwill acquired during the period		107,000,000
Goodwill adjustments/reclassifications		(43,000,000)
Net balance at the end of the period		31,133,000,000
Accumulated impairment loss		14,518,000,000	14,518,000,000
Goodwill reclassification adjustment	9,300,000,000	9,300,000,000
Number of financial reporting segments eliminated	2	2
Number of new financial reporting segments	2	2
Autonomy
Goodwill
Percentage of excess of fair value over carrying value of the goodwill		10.00%
Digital Risk LLC | MphasiS
Goodwill
Acquisition price paid by subsidiary		174,000,000
Personal Systems
Goodwill
Net balance at the beginning of the period			2,498,000,000
Net balance at the end of the period		2,498,000,000	2,498,000,000
Printing
Goodwill
Net balance at the beginning of the period			2,487,000,000
Net balance at the end of the period		2,487,000,000	2,487,000,000
Enterprise Group
Goodwill
Net balance at the beginning of the period	17,041,000,000	17,041,000,000
Goodwill adjustments/reclassifications		17,000,000
Net balance at the end of the period		17,058,000,000
Enterprise Services
Goodwill
Goodwill acquired during the period		107,000,000
Net balance at the end of the period		107,000,000
Accumulated impairment loss		7,961,000,000	7,961,000,000
Software
Goodwill
Net balance at the beginning of the period	8,899,000,000	8,899,000,000
Goodwill adjustments/reclassifications		(60,000,000)
Net balance at the end of the period		8,839,000,000
Accumulated impairment loss		5,744,000,000	5,744,000,000
HP Financial Services
Goodwill
Net balance at the beginning of the period			144,000,000
Net balance at the end of the period		144,000,000	144,000,000
Corporate Investments
Goodwill
Accumulated impairment loss		$ 813,000,000	$ 813,000,000
Reporting Units | Minimum
Goodwill
Percentage of excess of fair value over carrying value of the goodwill		9.00%
Reporting Units | Maximum
Goodwill
Percentage of excess of fair value over carrying value of the goodwill		330.00%
Legacy HP software business
Goodwill
Percentage of excess of fair value over carrying value of the goodwill		9.00%