Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	$ 4	$ 24	$ 85	$ 48
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	76	59	91	80
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	(1)	(3)	1	(3)
Utilization	(19)	(10)	(36)	(31)
Ending Balance	56	46	56	46
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	46	31	63	50
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	(3)	(3)	(8)	(6)
Utilization	(14)	(8)	(26)	(24)
Ending Balance	29	20	29	20
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	30	28	28	30
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2	0	9	3
Utilization	(5)	(2)	(10)	(7)
Ending Balance	27	26	27	26
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	66		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	5		84
Utilization	(24)		(37)
Ending Balance	47		47
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	66		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2		81
Utilization	(23)		(36)
Ending Balance	45		45
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	3		3
Utilization	(1)		(1)
Ending Balance	2		2
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2012 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		21		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)		27		51
Utilization		(11)		(14)
Ending Balance		37		37
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2012 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		20		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)		23		46
Utilization		(9)		(12)
Ending Balance		34		34
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2012 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		1		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)		4		5
Utilization		(2)		(2)
Ending Balance		3		3
VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2		56
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	26		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2		56
Utilization	(26)		(54)
Ending Balance	2		2
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	26		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	2		56
Utilization	(26)		(54)
Ending Balance	2		2
VMware | Restructuring 2013 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0		0
Charges/ (Adjustments to the Provision)	0		0
Utilization	0		0
Ending Balance	$ 0		$ 0