Balance Sheet Detail (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified													9 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013	Jul. 27, 2014 Land and improvements [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Land and improvements [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Building and improvements [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Building and improvements [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Construction in progress [Member]	Oct. 27, 2013 Construction in progress [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Minimum [Member] Building and improvements [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Minimum [Member] Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Minimum [Member] Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Maximum [Member] Building and improvements [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Maximum [Member] Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]	Jul. 27, 2014 Maximum [Member] Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Inventories
Customer service spares	$ 302	$ 274
Raw materials	377	325
Work-in-process	304	283
Finished goods	564	531
Total Inventories	1,547	1,413
Balance Sheet Detail (Textuals) [Abstract]
Inventory at customer locations included in finished goods	184	136
Evaluation inventory	165	177
Other Current Assets
Deferred income taxes, net	291	323
Prepaid expenses	166	135
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable	70	178
Other	73	69
Total Other Current Assets	600	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	2,829	2,817	156	167	1,220	1,217	822	792	574	589	57	52
Accumulated depreciation	(1,980)	(1,967)
Net property, plant and equipment	849	850
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable	583	582
Compensation and employee benefits	478	417
Warranty	112	102
Dividends payable	122	121
Income taxes payable	107	73
Other accrued taxes	50	41
Interest payable	14	30
Restructuring reserve	11	39
Other	212	244
Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses	1,689	1,649
Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue
Customer deposits	262	175
Deferred revenue	804	619
Total Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue	1,066	794
Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	64	71
Income taxes payable	128	174
Defined and postretirement benefit plans	202	193
Other	71	128
Total Other Liabilities	$ 465	$ 566