Goodwill, Purchased Technology and Other Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 27, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	$ 1,794	$ 1,788
Accumulated amortization	(963)	(827)
Total	831	961
Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,559	1,553
Accumulated amortization	(746)	(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	(141)	(139)
Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	20	20
Accumulated amortization	(8)	(3)
Purchased technology [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,450	1,444
Accumulated amortization	(811)	(696)
Total	639	748
Purchased technology [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,307	1,301
Accumulated amortization	(674)	(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	(3)	(1)
Other [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	344	344
Accumulated amortization	(152)	(131)
Total	192	213
Other [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	252	252
Accumulated amortization	(72)	(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	(31)	(29)
Other [Member] | Energy and Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	15	15
Accumulated amortization	$ (5)	$ (2)