Accrued Expenses - Components of Accrued Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Salaries and benefits	$ 942	$ 1,251
Product warranties	191	210	274	289
Dividends payable (see Note 11)	234	237
Partner rebates	179emc_AccruedPartnerRebateCurrent	235emc_AccruedPartnerRebateCurrent
Restructuring, current (See Note 12)	188us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent	123us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
Derivatives	91us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	75us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent
Other	992us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	1,010us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total	$ 2,817us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	$ 3,141us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent

No authoritative reference available.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, expected to be settled within one year or normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of dividends declared but unpaid on equity securities issued by the entity and outstanding.

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Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers. For classified balance sheets, represents the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated obligations associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid in the next twelve months or in the normal operating cycle if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

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