Goodwill, Purchased Technology and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 28, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	$ 1,788	$ 2,104
Accumulated amortization	(782)	(891)
Carrying amount	1,006	1,213
Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,553	1,552
Accumulated amortization	(577)	(447)
Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	72	72
Accumulated amortization	(64)	(61)
Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	143	143
Accumulated amortization	(139)	(133)
Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	20	337
Accumulated amortization	(2)	(250)
Purchased technology [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,444	1,543
Accumulated amortization	(658)	(598)
Carrying amount	786	945
Purchased technology [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,301	1,300
Accumulated amortization	(524)	(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	(110)	(106)
Purchased technology [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	5	105
Accumulated amortization	(1)	(59)
Other [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	344	561
Accumulated amortization	(124)	(293)
Carrying amount	220	268
Other [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	252	252
Accumulated amortization	(53)	(36)
Other [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	44	44
Accumulated amortization	(41)	(39)
Other [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	33	33
Accumulated amortization	(29)	(27)
Other [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	15	232
Accumulated amortization	$ (1)	$ (191)