Finance receivables (Finance Revenues) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Current	$ 2,288		$ 2,288		$ 2,843
Impaired Financing Receivable, Related Allowance	11		11		10
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	11		11		14
Finance Receivables Net And Trade And Other Receivables Net					4,254
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Retail notes and finance leases revenue	24	32	76	108
Operating lease revenue	10	8	30	23
Gross finance revenues	64	73	199	229
Less: Intercompany revenues	22	26	70	75
Finance revenues	42	47	129	154
Financing Receivables Recorded Investment 30 To 90 Days Past Due	61		61		90
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due	14		14		14
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross	2,363		2,363		2,947
Off Balance Sheet Securitization Transactions [Member]
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Securitization income	0	0	0	2
Wholesale Portfolio [Member] | Notes Receivable [Member]
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Finance revenues interest income	22	25	67	76
Retail And Wholesale Portfolios [Member]
Finance revenues from on-balance sheet receivables:
Finance revenues interest income	8	8	26	20
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Finance Receivables Net And Trade And Other Receivables Net	156		156		154
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Finance Receivables Net And Trade And Other Receivables Net	3,109		3,109		4,070
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Finance Receivables Net And Trade And Other Receivables Net	(2)		(2)		27
Parent Company [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Finance Receivables Net And Trade And Other Receivables Net	$ 4		$ 4		$ 3