Long-Term Obligations and Commitments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2009	Mar. 12, 2007
Long Term Obligations And Commitments (Textuals)
Senior notes	$ 500	$ 1,000			$ 1,000
Interest paid	60	60	61
Cash paid to license technology	10	15	13	20
Unamortized discounts on senior notes	(1)	(1)
Amount payable over next ten fiscal years for agreement to license technology				100
Present value of license technology agreement				89
Operating leases, rent expense	51	48	43
Reported as:
Current portion of long-term debt	0	500
Long-term debt	499	499
Total senior notes	499	999
Other long-term obligations
Total license fee payable	54	60
Total deferred rent	53	52
Long-term deferred revenue	42	40
Long-term income tax liabilities	41	42
Other	5	13
Total long-term obligations	195	207
Less current portion (included in other current liabilities)	(19)	(17)
Long-term obligations due after one year	176	190
Senior Notes [Member]
Long Term Obligations And Commitments (Textuals)
Interest paid	56	56	56
5.40% fixed-rate notes, due 2012 [Member]
Long Term Obligations And Commitments (Textuals)
Senior notes	0	500
Senior notes, rate					5.40%
5.75% fixed-rate notes, due 2017 [Member]
Long Term Obligations And Commitments (Textuals)
Senior notes	500	500
Senior notes, rate					5.75%
Operating Lease Expense [Member]
Fiscal year ending July 31,
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Current	57
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	56
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	53
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	43
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	44
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	174
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	427
Purchase Commitment [Member]
Fiscal year ending July 31,
Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	89
Purchase Obligation, Due in Second Year	77
Purchase Obligation, Due in Third Year	53
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	41
Purchase Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	37
Purchase Obligation, Due after Fifth Year	0
Purchase Obligation	$ 297