Goodwill, Purchased Technology and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 28, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	$ 1,787	$ 2,104
Accumulated amortization	(735)	(891)
Carrying amount	1,052	1,213
Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,552	1,552
Accumulated amortization	(535)	(447)
Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	72	72
Accumulated amortization	(63)	(61)
Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	143	143
Accumulated amortization	(137)	(133)
Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	20	337
Accumulated amortization	0	(250)
Purchased Technology [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,442	1,543
Accumulated amortization	(618)	(598)
Carrying amount	824	945
Purchased Technology [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,300	1,300
Accumulated amortization	(486)	(411)
Purchased Technology [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	28	28
Accumulated amortization	(23)	(22)
Purchased Technology [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	110	110
Accumulated amortization	(109)	(106)
Purchased Technology [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	4	105
Accumulated amortization	0	(59)
Other [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	345	561
Accumulated amortization	(117)	(293)
Carrying amount	228	268
Other [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	252	252
Accumulated amortization	(49)	(36)
Other [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	44	44
Accumulated amortization	(40)	(39)
Other [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	33	33
Accumulated amortization	(28)	(27)
Other [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	16	232
Accumulated amortization	$ 0	$ (191)