Balance Sheet Detail (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified													3 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013	Jan. 26, 2014 Land and improvements [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Land and improvements [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Building and improvements [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Building and improvements [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Construction in progress [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Construction in progress [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Minimum [Member] Building and improvements [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Minimum [Member] Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Minimum [Member] Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Maximum [Member] Building and improvements [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Maximum [Member] Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Jan. 26, 2014 Maximum [Member] Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Inventories
Customer service spares	$ 280	$ 274
Raw materials	335	325
Work-in-process	292	283
Finished goods	626	531
Total Inventories	1,533	1,413
Balance Sheet Detail (Textuals) [Abstract]
Inventory at customer locations included in finished goods	194	136
Evaluation inventory	190	177
Other Current Assets
Deferred income taxes, net	315	323
Prepaid expenses	161	135
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable	147	178
Other	59	69
Total Other Current Assets	682	705
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life													3 years	3 years	3 years	30 years	5 years	15 years
Gross property, plant and equipment	2,847	2,817	167	167	1,230	1,217	815	792	592	589	43	52
Accumulated depreciation	(2,001)	(1,967)
Net property, plant and equipment	846	850
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable	645	582
Compensation and employee benefits	326	417
Warranty	106	102
Dividends payable	121	121
Income taxes payable	49	73
Other accrued taxes	31	41
Interest payable	14	30
Restructuring reserve	28	39
Other	256	244
Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses	1,576	1,649
Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue
Customer deposits	147	175
Deferred revenue	754	619
Total Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue	901	794
Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	65	71
Income taxes payable	200	174
Defined benefit pension plan liability	192	193
Other	78	128
Total Other Liabilities	$ 535	$ 566