Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 28, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	$ 113	$ 371	$ 27	$ 319
Merchandise inventories	922	840	897
Other	158	123	158
Total current assets	1,193	1,334	1,082
Property and equipment, net	326	312	310
Goodwill	95	95	95
Other assets	72	81	100
Total assets	1,686	1,822	1,587
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	277	301	250
Accrued liabilities and other	351	389	332
Current portion of long-term debt	1	127	140
Other	3	20	2
Total current liabilities	632	837	724
Long-term debt	3,363	3,363	3,387
Other long-term liabilities	97	96	81
Total stockholders' deficit	(2,406)	(2,474)	(2,605)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	1,686	1,822	1,587
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	93	363	27	309
Merchandise inventories	600	554	583
Other	135	103	134
Total current assets	828	1,020	744
Property and equipment, net	265	249	245
Goodwill	95	95	95
Investment in subsidiaries	586	410	454
Other assets	69	78	99
Total assets	1,843	1,852	1,637
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	8	9	1
Accrued liabilities and other	232	257	227
Current portion of long-term debt	1	127	140
Intercompany payable	556	466	416
Other	3	19	2
Total current liabilities	800	878	786
Long-term debt	3,363	3,363	3,387
Other long-term liabilities	86	85	69
Total stockholders' deficit	(2,406)	(2,474)	(2,605)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	1,843	1,852	1,637
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Percentage of equity ownership owned	100.00%
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	20	8		10
Merchandise inventories	322	286	314
Intercompany receivables	556	466	416
Other	23	20	24
Total current assets	921	780	754
Property and equipment, net	61	63	65
Other assets	3	3	1
Total assets	985	846	820
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	269	292	249
Accrued liabilities and other	119	132	105
Other		1
Total current liabilities	388	425	354
Other long-term liabilities	11	11	12
Total stockholders' deficit	586	410	454
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	985	846	820
Eliminations
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(556)	(466)	(416)
Total current assets	(556)	(466)	(416)
Investment in subsidiaries	(586)	(410)	(454)
Total assets	(1,142)	(876)	(870)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(556)	(466)	(416)
Total current liabilities	(556)	(466)	(416)
Total stockholders' deficit	(586)	(410)	(454)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ (1,142)	$ (876)	$ (870)