Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 27, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	$ 161	$ 371	$ 111	$ 319
Merchandise inventories	1,076	840	1,019
Other	150	123	144
Total current assets	1,387	1,334	1,274
Property and equipment, net	344	312	316
Goodwill	95	95	95
Other assets	75	81	95
Total assets	1,901	1,822	1,780
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	374	301	348
Accrued liabilities and other	424	389	405
Current portion of long-term debt	180	127	135
Other	9	20	5
Total current liabilities	987	837	893
Long-term debt	3,188	3,363	3,376
Other long-term liabilities	97	96	83
Total stockholders' deficit	(2,371)	(2,474)	(2,572)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	1,901	1,822	1,780
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	138	363	97	309
Merchandise inventories	717	554	677
Other	120	103	121
Total current assets	975	1,020	895
Property and equipment, net	277	249	251
Goodwill	95	95	95
Investment in subsidiaries	623	410	481
Other assets	72	78	94
Total assets	2,042	1,852	1,816
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	23	9	9
Accrued liabilities and other	295	257	280
Current portion of long-term debt	180	127	135
Intercompany payable	634	466	512
Other	8	19	5
Total current liabilities	1,140	878	941
Long-term debt	3,188	3,363	3,376
Other long-term liabilities	85	85	71
Total stockholders' deficit	(2,371)	(2,474)	(2,572)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	2,042	1,852	1,816
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Percentage of equity ownership owned	100.00%
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	23	8	14	10
Merchandise inventories	359	286	342
Intercompany receivables	634	466	512
Other	30	20	23
Total current assets	1,046	780	891
Property and equipment, net	67	63	65
Other assets	3	3	1
Total assets	1,116	846	957
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	351	292	339
Accrued liabilities and other	129	132	125
Other	1	1
Total current liabilities	481	425	464
Other long-term liabilities	12	11	12
Total stockholders' deficit	623	410	481
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	1,116	846	957
Eliminations
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(634)	(466)	(512)
Total current assets	(634)	(466)	(512)
Investment in subsidiaries	(623)	(410)	(481)
Total assets	(1,257)	(876)	(993)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(634)	(466)	(512)
Total current liabilities	(634)	(466)	(512)
Total stockholders' deficit	(623)	(410)	(481)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$ (1,257)	$ (876)	$ (993)