Balance Sheet Detail (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 26, 2015	Oct. 26, 2014
Inventories
Customer service spares	$ 353	$ 316
Raw materials	438	405
Work-in-process	329	316
Finished goods	619	530
Total Inventories	1,739	1,567
Inventory at customer locations included in finished goods	97	104
Evaluation inventory	184	164
Other Current Assets
Deferred income taxes, net	227	232
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable	153	79
Prepaid expenses and other	190	257
Total Other Current Assets	570	568
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	2,977	2,848
Accumulated depreciation	(2,095)	(1,987)
Net property, plant and equipment	882	861
Accounts Payable, Notes Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable	693	613
Compensation and employee benefits	463	524
Notes payable, short-term	400	0
Warranty	125	113
Dividends payable	120	122
Income taxes payable	40	142
Other accrued taxes	50	51
Interest payable	14	30
Other	257	288
Accounts payable, notes payable and accrued expenses	2,162	1,883
Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue
Customer deposits	200	286
Deferred revenue	658	654
Total Customer Deposits and Deferred Revenue	858	940
Other Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	50	32
Income taxes payable	200	225
Defined and postretirement benefit plans	255	208
Other	104	71
Total Other Liabilities	609	536
Land and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	161	156
Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	1,276	1,227
Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	917	829
Construction in progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	51	61
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Gross property, plant and equipment	$ 572	$ 575
Minimum [Member] | Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	3 years
Maximum [Member] | Building and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Demonstration and manufacturing equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Furniture, fixtures and other equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, Plant and Equipment, useful life	15 years