The number of foreign countries in which the entity is subject to income taxes.

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Income tax benefits derived from discrete items outside the FIN 18 forecasted annual effective tax rate.

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The change in tax benefits that would be recorded by the entity related to tax carryforwards and carrybacks if the Notice of Deficiency were sustained.

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The period of likelihood that the uncertain tax position will not be resolved.

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The period of likelihood that the certain tax position pertaining to foreign and state tax issues will be resolved.

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The amount of additional tax payment due from the entity asserted in a Notice of Deficiency.

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The discrete income tax benefit recorded due to the retroactive extension of the research and development tax credit.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the year/accounting period and the expected income tax benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to restructuring and acquisition charges.

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The amount of reduction in tax refund claims if IRS adjustments are sustained.

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Represents the net interest income on net tax overpayments, net of tax.

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For entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the unclassified net amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carryforwards pertaining to assets or liabilities. A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 42, 43

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The current portion of the aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; after deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference. An unrecognized tax benefit that is directly related to a position taken in a tax year that results in a net operating loss carryforward should be presented as a reduction of the related deferred tax asset.

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The noncurrent portion as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate carrying amount of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; after the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.

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Represents the current portion of deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A current taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of a current asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In a classified statement of financial position, an enterprise shall separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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Represents the noncurrent portion of deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A noncurrent taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of a noncurrent asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In a classified statement of financial position, an enterprise shall separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 2
-Article 4

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The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate shall be the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

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The amount of estimated penalties and interest accrued as of the balance sheet date arising from income tax examinations.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense (benefit) as reported in the Income Statement for the year/accounting period and the expected income tax expense (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 other amounts reflected in the reconciliation of the statutory tax provision (benefit) to the actual tax provision (benefit).

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The amount of the unrecognized tax benefit of a position taken for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount thereof will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 48
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph d

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The gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits (tax reductions recognized in financial reports but excluded from tax returns) pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns as of the beginning balance sheet date, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns.

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The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

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-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
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Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 30, 2009	Jan. 30, 2008
Income Taxes
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	19.70%	19.00%	20.40%	19.80%
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)			35.00%
Tax benefits resulting from reconciling items	$ 145,000,000	$ 236,000,000	$ 302,000,000	$ 375,000,000
Tax benefits from restructuring and acquisition charges	62,000,000	206,000,000	174,000,000	340,000,000
Tax benefits for settlement of tax audit matters and other miscellaneous discrete items	83,000,000		85,000,000
Tax benefit from the retroactive research and development credit			43,000,000
Net tax benefits with adjustments to prior year foreign income tax accruals and credits, settlement of tax audit matters, a valuation allowance release, and other miscellaneous discrete items		30,000,000		35,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	1,900,000,000		1,900,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate if realized	1,300,000,000		1,300,000,000
Accrued income tax payable for interest and penalties	164,000,000		164,000,000
Net interest income on net tax overpayments, net of tax	18,000,000		17,000,000
Income tax examination, likelihood of no resolution period (in months)			12
Income tax examination, likelihood of conclusion period (in months)			12
Reasonably possible, reduction in existing unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months	198,000,000		198,000,000
Number of foreign countries in which HP is subject to income taxes			80
Reduction in tax refund cliams if IRS's adjustments are sustained						35,000,000	215,000,000
Income tax examination, additional tax payable	110,000,000		110,000,000
Income tax examination, reduction in tax benefits	29,000,000		29,000,000
Classification of current and long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities
Current deferred tax assets	5,376,000,000		5,376,000,000		5,833,000,000
Current deferred tax liabilities	(38,000,000)		(38,000,000)		(53,000,000)
Long-term deferred tax assets	2,200,000,000		2,200,000,000		2,070,000,000
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(5,812,000,000)		(5,812,000,000)		(5,239,000,000)
Total deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities	$ 1,726,000,000		$ 1,726,000,000		$ 2,611,000,000