| **Supplemental cash flow information (Tables)**   | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
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| **Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures   | The following table provides additional information about the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009:   For the Years EndedOctober 31,    2011 2010 2009(in millions)      Equity in income of affiliated companies, net of dividends      Equity in (income) loss of non-consolidated affiliates $71 $50 $(46)Dividends from non-consolidated affiliates 4 5 59Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates, net of dividends $75 $55 $13Other non-cash operating activities      Loss on sales of affiliates $— $8 $1Extraordinary gain on acquisition of subsidiary — — (23)Gain on increased equity interest in subsidiary (6) — (23)Loss on sale of property and equipment 2 1 8Loss (gain) on sale and impairment of repossessed collateral (1) 9 32Loss on sale of finance receivables — 39 48Write-off of debt issuance cost — 4 11Gain on sale of leaseback settlement (10) — —Other non-cash operating activities (15) 61 54Changes in other assets and liabilities      Other current assets $(28) $(39) $(34)Other noncurrent assets (32) 7 (10)Other current liabilities 130 (73) (85)Postretirement benefits liabilities 9 (40) 97Other noncurrent liabilities 94 (16) (102)Other, net (9) 1 (8)Changes in other assets and liabilities $164 $(160) $(142)Cash paid during the year      Interest, net of amounts capitalized $208 $170 $211Income taxes, net of refunds 9 27 (5)Non-cash investing and financing activities      Property and equipment acquired under capital leases $— $12 $6Transfers from inventories to property and equipment for leases to others 9 34 32 |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of supplemental cash flow information for the periods presented.
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