Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	$ 66	$ 31	$ 200	$ 175
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		101		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		32		186
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(35)		(88)
Ending Balance		98		98
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		98		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		30		179
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(33)		(84)
Ending Balance		95		95
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2014 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		3		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		2		7
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(2)		(4)
Ending Balance		3		3
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2015 Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	101		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	68		208
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(36)		(75)
Ending Balance	133		133
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2015 Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	89		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	62		185
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(33)		(67)
Ending Balance	118		118
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring 2015 Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	12		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	6		23
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(3)		(8)
Ending Balance	15		15
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	56	35	121	90
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(2)	(1)	(8)	(11)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(15)	(7)	(74)	(52)
Ending Balance	39	27	39	27
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	43	17	102	66
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(1)	(1)	(7)	(14)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(14)	(6)	(67)	(42)
Ending Balance	28	10	28	10
EMC Information Infrastructure | Restructuring Other Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	13	18	19	24
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(1)	0	(1)	3
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(1)	(1)	(7)	(10)
Ending Balance	11	17	11	17
VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		$ 6		$ 4
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision			20
VMware | Restructuring Other Programs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			8
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision			20
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period			(27)
Ending Balance	1		1
VMware | Restructuring Other Programs | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			8
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision			20
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period			(27)
Ending Balance	1		1
VMware | Restructuring Other Programs | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision			0
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period			0
Ending Balance	$ 0		$ 0