Balance Sheet Detail (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Jan. 27, 2013 Building and improvements [Member] Y	Jan. 27, 2013 Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member] Y	Jan. 27, 2013 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member] Y
Inventories
Customer service spares	$ 291	$ 312
Raw materials	318	331
Work-in-process	242	234
Finished goods	427	395
Total Inventories	1,278	1,272
Other Current Assets
Deferred income taxes, net	394	369
Prepaid expenses	110	101
Income taxes receivable	9	87
Other	112	116
Total Other Current Assets	625	673
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)			3	3	3
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)			30	5	15
Land and improvements	169	169
Buildings and improvements	1,203	1,196
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment	779	760
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment	739	734
Construction in progress	47	58
Gross property, plant and equipment	2,937	2,917
Accumulated depreciation	(2,037)	(2,007)
Net property, plant and equipment	900	910
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable	430	396
Compensation and employee benefits	261	426
Warranty	109	119
Dividends payable	108	108
Income taxes payable	44	74
Other accrued taxes	34	18
Interest payable	14	30
Restructuring reserve	73	133
Other	214	206
Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses	1,287	1,510
Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue
Customer deposits	154	143
Deferred revenue	524	612
Total Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue	678	755
Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	165	201
Income taxes payable	136	140
Defined benefit pension plan liability	190	184
Other	171	131
Total Other Liabilities	662	656
Balance Sheet Detail (Textuals) [Abstract]
Inventory at customer locations included in finished goods	93	60
Evaluation inventory	$ 196	$ 176