Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term investments, par value	$ 142,000,000	$ 193,000,000	$ 241,000,000
Long-term investments, fair value	102,000,000	153,000,000	208,000,000
Redemption period in valuing auction rate securities	7 years
Investment maturity date range, beginning	2016
Investment maturity date range, ending	2041
Investment weighted average maturity year	2035
Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent	7.87%
Long term debt, fair value	$ 2,500,000,000	$ 2,400,000,000	$ 1,800,000,000
Minimum
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Discount rate	3.02%
Maximum
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Discount rate	13.52%