Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,256	$ 847	$ 329
Impairments, store closing costs and division consolidation costs	(25)	25	391
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Dividends received from subsidiaries	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	1,085	1,150	1,210
(Increase) decrease in working capital	(55)	(43)	32
Other, net	(168)	(473)	(212)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,093	1,506	1,750
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software, net	(644)	(425)	(374)
Other, net	27	(40)	(3)
Net cash used by investing activities	(617)	(465)	(377)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt repaid	346	(1,245)	(966)
Dividends paid	(148)	(84)	(84)
Issuance of common stock, net of common stock acquired	(340)	42	7
Intercompany activity, net	0	0	0
Other, net	29	24	(29)
Net cash used by financing activities	(113)	(1,263)	(1,072)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,363	(222)	301
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period	1,464	1,686	1,385
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	2,827	1,464	1,686
Parent
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,256	847	329
Impairments, store closing costs and division consolidation costs	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(1,253)	(852)	(333)
Dividends received from subsidiaries	612	541	436
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
(Increase) decrease in working capital	5	179	114
Other, net	(18)	8	73
Net cash provided by operating activities	602	723	619
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software, net	0	0	0
Other, net	38	0	0
Net cash used by investing activities	38	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt repaid	0	0	0
Dividends paid	(148)	(84)	(84)
Issuance of common stock, net of common stock acquired	(340)	42	7
Intercompany activity, net	1,186	(710)	(247)
Other, net	21	(115)	(24)
Net cash used by financing activities	719	(867)	(348)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,359	(144)	271
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period	1,174	1,318	1,047
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	2,533	1,174	1,318
Subsidiary Issuer
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	515	320	(165)
Impairments, store closing costs and division consolidation costs	(28)	21	226
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(548)	(417)	(201)
Dividends received from subsidiaries	175	250	60
Depreciation and amortization	517	566	619
(Increase) decrease in working capital	(110)	(454)	163
Other, net	(166)	(526)	(96)
Net cash provided by operating activities	355	(240)	606
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software, net	(171)	(178)	(147)
Other, net	16	0	0
Net cash used by investing activities	(155)	(178)	(147)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt repaid	349	(1,242)	(963)
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock, net of common stock acquired	0	0	0
Intercompany activity, net	(529)	1,656	493
Other, net	(23)	(15)	3
Net cash used by financing activities	(203)	399	(467)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3)	(19)	(8)
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period	41	60	68
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	38	41	60
Other Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	1,286	949	699
Impairments, store closing costs and division consolidation costs	3	4	165
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Dividends received from subsidiaries	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	568	584	591
(Increase) decrease in working capital	50	232	(245)
Other, net	16	45	(189)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,923	1,814	1,021
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software, net	(473)	(247)	(227)
Other, net	(27)	(40)	(3)
Net cash used by investing activities	(500)	(287)	(230)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt repaid	(3)	(3)	(3)
Dividends paid	(787)	(791)	(496)
Issuance of common stock, net of common stock acquired	0	0	0
Intercompany activity, net	(657)	(946)	(246)
Other, net	31	154	(8)
Net cash used by financing activities	(1,416)	(1,586)	(753)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7	(59)	38
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period	249	308	270
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	256	249	308
Consolidating Adjustments
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1,801)	(1,269)	(534)
Impairments, store closing costs and division consolidation costs	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	1,801	1,269	534
Dividends received from subsidiaries	(787)	(791)	(496)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
(Increase) decrease in working capital	0	0	0
Other, net	0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	(787)	(791)	(496)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment and capitalized software, net	0	0	0
Other, net	0	0	0
Net cash used by investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Debt repaid	0	0	0
Dividends paid	787	791	496
Issuance of common stock, net of common stock acquired	0	0	0
Intercompany activity, net	0	0	0
Other, net	0	0	0
Net cash used by financing activities	787	791	496
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0