Balance Sheet Detail (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
Inventories
Customer service spares	$ 316	$ 283
Raw materials	405	361
Work-in-process	316	292
Finished goods	530	477
Total Inventories	1,567	1,413
Inventory at customer locations included in finished goods	104	136
Evaluation inventory	192	177
Other Current Assets
Deferred income taxes, net	232	323
Prepaid expenses	172	135
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable	79	178
Other	85	69
Total Other Current Assets	568	705
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	2,848	2,817
Accumulated depreciation	(1,987)	(1,967)
Net property, plant and equipment	861	850
Depreciation	191	211	198
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	5	63	168
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable	613	582
Compensation and employee benefits	524	417
Warranty	113	102
Income taxes payable	142	73
Dividends payable	122	121
Other accrued taxes	51	41
Interest payable	30	30
Restructuring reserve	9	39
Other	279	244
Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses	1,883	1,649
Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue
Customer deposits	286	175
Deferred revenue	654	619
Total Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue	940	794
Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	32	71
Income taxes payable	225	174
Defined and postretirement benefit plans	208	193
Other	71	128
Total Other Liabilities	536	566
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
Land and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	156	167
Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	1,227	1,217
Building and improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Useful Life	3 years
Building and improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Useful Life	30 years
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	829	792
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Useful Life	3 years
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Useful Life	5 years
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	575	589
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Useful Life	3 years
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Useful Life	15 years
Construction in progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	$ 61	$ 52