| **Investments in and advances to non-consolidated affiliates (Tables)**                                     | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| **Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]**                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Schedule of Equity Method Investments, Summarized Financial Information, Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]   | The following table summarizes 100% of the combined assets, liabilities, and equity of our equity method affiliates as of October 31:(in millions)2012 2011Assets:(Unaudited)Current assets$271 $214Noncurrent assets199 238Total assets$470 $452Liabilities and equity:   Current liabilities$195 $118Noncurrent liabilities91 117Total liabilities286 235Partners' capital and stockholders' equity:  NIC55 73Third parties129 144Total partners' capital and stockholders' equity184 217Total liabilities and equity$470 $452 |
| Schedule of Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Table Text Block] | The following table summarizes 100% of the combined results of operations of our equity method affiliates for the years ended October 31:  2012 2011(A) 2010(in millions)(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)Net sales$704 $938 $659Costs, expenses, and income tax expense726 1,069 755Net loss$(22) $(131) $(96)___________________(A)Includes amounts for NC2 through September 29, 2011.                                                                                                                                                               |
| Schedule of transactions with affiliates [Table Text Block]                                                 | Amounts due to and due from our affiliates arising from the sale and purchase of products and services as of October 31 are as follows: (in millions)2012 2011Receivables due from affiliates$32 $30Payables due to affiliates29 29                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| NC2 Global LLC [Member]                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]**                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Summarized financial information for NC2 Global, LLC                                                        | Presented below is summarized financial information representing 100% of NC2, which was considered a significant non-consolidated affiliate in 2011 and 2010, prior to increasing the equity interest in September 2011.(in millions)Eleven Months Ended September 29, 2011 Year Ended               October 31, 2010Net revenue$235 $63Net expenses318 135Loss before tax expense(83) (72)Net loss(83) (72)                                                                                                                                                                            |

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Schedule of Equity Method Investments, Summarized Financial Information, Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]
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Tabular disclosure of equity method investments in common stock. The disclosure may include: (a) the name of each investee or group of investments for which combined disclosure is appropriate, (2) the percentage ownership of common stock, (3) the difference, if any, between the carrying amount of an investment and the value of the underlying equity in the net assets and the accounting treatment of difference, if any, and (4) the aggregate value of each identified investment based on its quoted market price, if available.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a, b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
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