Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income taxes We compute on a quarterly basis an estimated annual effective tax rate considering ordinary income and related income tax expense. Certain foreign results in 2012 and 2011 are excluded from ordinary income due to ordinary losses for which no benefit can be recognized. Ordinary income refers to income (loss) before income tax expense excluding significant unusual or infrequently occurring items. The tax effect of a significant unusual or infrequently occurring item is recorded in the interim period in which it occurs. Items included in income tax expense in the periods in which they occur include the tax effects of material restructuring and impairments, cumulative effect of changes in tax laws or rates, foreign exchange gains and losses, adjustments to uncertain tax positions, and adjustments to our valuation allowance due to changes in judgment regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets in future years. We have evaluated the need to maintain a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets based on our assessment of whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax benefits will be realized through the generation of future taxable income. Appropriate consideration is given to all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. We continue to maintain a valuation allowance on certain federal, state, and foreign deferred tax assets that we believe, on a more-likely-than-not basis, will not be realizable based on current forecasted results. However, it is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that the Company may release a portion of its existing valuation allowance based on the results of business strategies that would indicate deferred tax assets more likely than not will be realized. We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As of January 31, 2012, the amount of liability for uncertain tax positions was $25 million. If the unrecognized tax benefits are recognized, $29 million would impact our effective tax rate. We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of Income tax benefit. The tax benefit for the first quarter 2012 includes interest and penalties related to our uncertain tax positions of $12 million, reflecting the ongoing resolution of audits in various jurisdictions. We have open tax years back to 2005 with various significant taxing jurisdictions including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. In connection with the examination of tax returns, contingencies may arise that generally result from differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, timing or inclusion of revenues or expenses in taxable income, or the sustainability of tax credits to reduce income taxes payable. We believe we have sufficient accruals for our contingent tax liabilities. Interim tax provisions include amounts considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examinations of prior year tax returns, although actual results may differ. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease during the next twelve months. The impact of any such change on our financial condition and results of operation could be in the range of $0 to $25 million. We do not expect any such change to have a material effect on our cash flows.

Income taxes

We compute on a quarterly basis an estimated annual effective tax rate considering ordinary income and related income tax expense. Certain foreign results in 2012 and 2011 are excluded from ordinary income due to ordinary losses for which no benefit can be recognized. Ordinary income refers to income (loss) before income tax expense excluding significant unusual or infrequently occurring items. The tax effect of a significant unusual or infrequently occurring item is recorded in the interim period in which it occurs. Items included in income tax expense in the periods in which they occur include the tax effects of material restructuring and impairments, cumulative effect of changes in tax laws or rates, foreign exchange gains and losses, adjustments to uncertain tax positions, and adjustments to our valuation allowance due to changes in judgment regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets in future years.

We have evaluated the need to maintain a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets based on our assessment of whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax benefits will be realized through the generation of future taxable income. Appropriate consideration is given to all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. We continue to maintain a valuation allowance on certain federal, state, and foreign deferred tax assets that we believe, on a more-likely-than-not basis, will not be realizable based on current forecasted results. However, it is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that the Company may release a portion of its existing valuation allowance based on the results of business strategies that would indicate deferred tax assets more likely than not will be realized.

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As of January 31, 2012, the amount of liability for uncertain tax positions was $25 million. If the unrecognized tax benefits are recognized, $29 million would impact our effective tax rate.

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of Income tax benefit. The tax benefit for the first quarter 2012 includes interest and penalties related to our uncertain tax positions of $12 million, reflecting the ongoing resolution of audits in various jurisdictions. We have open tax years back to 2005 with various significant taxing jurisdictions including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. In connection with the examination of tax returns, contingencies may arise that generally result from differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, timing or inclusion of revenues or expenses in taxable income, or the sustainability of tax credits to reduce income taxes payable. We believe we have sufficient accruals for our contingent tax liabilities. Interim tax provisions include amounts considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examinations of prior year tax returns, although actual results may differ. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease during the next twelve months. The impact of any such change on our financial condition and results of operation could be in the range of $0 to $25 million. We do not expect any such change to have a material effect on our cash flows.