Balance Sheet Detail (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011
Inventories
Customer service spares	$ 274	$ 312
Raw materials	325	331
Work-in-process	283	234
Finished goods	531	395
Total Inventories	1,413	1,272
Inventory at customer locations included in finished goods	136	60
Evaluation inventory	177	176
Other Current Assets
Deferred income taxes, net	323	369
Prepaid expenses	135	101
Income taxes receivable	7	87
Other	240	116
Total Other Current Assets	705	673
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	2,817	2,917
Accumulated depreciation	(1,967)	(2,007)
Net property, plant and equipment	850	910
Depreciation	211	198	194
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	63	168	(30)
Proceeds from sale of assets	7	0	130
Gain incurred on sale of property	4	0	27
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable	582	396
Compensation and employee benefits	417	426
Warranty	102	119
Income taxes payable	73	74
Dividends payable	121	108
Other accrued taxes	41	18
Interest payable	30	30
Restructuring reserve	39	133
Other	244	206
Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses	1,649	1,510
Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue
Customer deposits	175	143
Deferred revenue	619	612
Total Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue	794	755
Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	71	200
Income taxes payable	174	140
Defined benefit pension plan liability	193	216
Other	128	100
Total Other Liabilities	566	656
North America [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Number of properties sold			2
Gain incurred on sale of property			27
2012 EES Restructuring Plan [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	26	48
2012 EES Restructuring Plan [Member] | Asset Impairments [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	12	20	0
Land and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	167	169
Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	1,217	1,196
Building and improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Building and improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	30 years
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	792	760
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	5 years
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	589	734
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	15 years
Construction in progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	52	58
Properties [Member] | North America [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Proceeds from sale of assets			99
Certain assets [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Proceeds from sale of assets			$ 31