Income Tax Reconciliation (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Reconciliation Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Federal income tax benefit (expense) at the statutory rate of 35%	$ 389	$ (155)	$ (118)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	(6)	(4)	(3)
Alternative minimum taxes	0	0	29
Credits and incentives	10	27	2
Adjustments to valuation allowances	(2,207)	1,499	73
Medicare subsidies	0	0	6
Foreign Operations	(17)	(19)	(11)
Adjustments to uncertain tax positions	11	42	5
Subpart F Income	0	(1)	(17)
Noncontrolling Interest adjustment	17	19	16
Other	23	9	(5)
Income tax benefit (expense)	$ (1,780)	$ 1,417	$ (23)

Income Tax Reconciliation, Alternative Minimum Tax Refund

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Income Tax Reconciliation Subpart F Income

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit)

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in the period.

+ References

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Amount of difference between income tax expense or benefit as reported in the income statement, and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to Medicare prescription drug benefits (subsidies).

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to total foreign income tax expense or benefit. The foreign income tax expense or benefit difference represents the income tax expense or benefit at applicable domestic statutory income tax rates applied to foreign earnings or loss for the period versus the foreign income tax expense or benefit calculated by applying the appropriate foreign tax rates.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest income or expense that is exempt from income taxes under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the year/accounting period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to all other items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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The sum of the differences between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to changes in all income tax contingencies, whether recorded or adjusted, during the period.

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The sum of the differences between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to tax credits.

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