Goodwill, Purchased Technology and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 27, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	$ 1,788	$ 1,788
Accumulated amortization	(918)	(827)
Carrying amount	870	961
Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,553	1,553
Accumulated amortization	(704)	(620)
Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	72	72
Accumulated amortization	(68)	(65)
Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	143	143
Accumulated amortization	(140)	(139)
Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	20	20
Accumulated amortization	(6)	(3)
Purchased technology [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,444	1,444
Accumulated amortization	(773)	(696)
Carrying amount	671	748
Purchased technology [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,301	1,301
Accumulated amortization	(637)	(562)
Purchased technology [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	28	28
Accumulated amortization	(24)	(23)
Purchased technology [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	110	110
Accumulated amortization	(110)	(110)
Purchased technology [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	5	5
Accumulated amortization	(2)	(1)
Other [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	344	344
Accumulated amortization	(145)	(131)
Carrying amount	199	213
Other [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	252	252
Accumulated amortization	(67)	(58)
Other [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	44	44
Accumulated amortization	(44)	(42)
Other [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	33	33
Accumulated amortization	(30)	(29)
Other [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	15	15
Accumulated amortization	$ (4)	$ (2)