Subsequent Event (Notes)	12 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	NOTE 18 — SUBSEQUENT EVENT Merger Agreement On February 5, 2013, Dell announced that it had signed a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “merger agreement”) pursuant to which it will be acquired by Denali Holding Inc. (“Parent”), a Delaware corporation owned by Michael S. Dell, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Dell, and investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake Partners, a global private equity firm (“Silver Lake”). Following completion of the transaction, Mr. Dell will continue to lead Dell as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and will maintain a significant equity investment in Dell by contributing his Dell shares to Parent and making a cash investment in Parent. Subject to the satisfaction or permitted waiver of closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement, the merger is expected to be consummated before the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year ending January 31, 2014. At the effective time of the merger, each share of Dell's common stock issued and outstanding immediately before the effective time, other than certain excluded shares, will be converted into the right to receive $13.65 in cash, without interest (the “merger consideration”). Shares of common stock held by the Parent and its subsidiaries, shares held by Mr. Dell and certain of Mr. Dell's related parties (together with Mr. Dell, the “MD Investors”), and by Dell or any wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell will not be entitled to receive the merger consideration. Dell's stockholders will be asked to vote on the adoption of the merger agreement and the merger at a special stockholders meeting that will be held on a date to be announced. The closing of the merger is subject to a non-waivable condition that the merger agreement be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of (1) at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock and (2) at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock held by stockholders other than Parent and its subsidiaries, the MD Investors, any other officers and directors of Dell or any other person having any equity interest in, or any right to acquire any equity interest in, Parent's merger subsidiary or any person of which the merger subsidiary is a direct or indirect subsidiary. Consummation of the merger is also subject to certain customary conditions. The merger agreement does not contain a financing condition. The merger agreement places limitations on Dell's ability to engage in certain types of transactions without Parent's consent during the period between the signing of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger. During this period, Dell may not repurchase shares of its common stock or declare dividends in excess of the quarterly rate of $0.08 per share authorized under its current dividend policy. In addition, with limited exceptions, Dell may not incur additional debt other than up to $1.8 billion under its existing commercial paper program, $2.0 billion under its revolving credit facilities, $1.5 billion under its structured financing debt facilities, and up to $25 million of additional indebtedness. Further, other than in transactions in the ordinary course of business or within specified dollar limits and certain other limited exceptions, Dell generally may not acquire other businesses, make investments in other persons, or sell, lease, or encumber its material assets. Parent has obtained equity and debt financing commitments for the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, the aggregate proceeds of which, together with the proceeds of a rollover investment of Dell shares in Parent by the MD Investors, an investment in subordinated securities and the available cash of Dell, will be sufficient for Parent to pay the aggregate merger consideration and all related fees and expenses. The commitment of financial institutions to provide debt financing for the transaction is subject to a number of customary conditions, including the execution and delivery by the borrowers and the guarantors of definitive documentation consistent with the debt commitment letter. Pursuant to the terms of a “go-shop” provision in the merger agreement, during the period beginning on the date of the merger agreement and expiring after March 22, 2013, Dell and its subsidiaries and their respective representatives may initiate, solicit and encourage any alternative acquisition proposals from third parties, provide nonpublic information to such third parties and participate in discussions and negotiations with such third parties regarding alternative acquisition proposals. Under the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, before the company stockholder approvals adopting the merger agreement, the Board of Directors may change its recommendation, including in order to approve, and may authorize Dell to enter into, an alternative acquisition proposal if the special committee of the Board of Directors that recommended approval of the merger has determined in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors, that such alternative acquisition proposal would be more favorable to Dell's stockholders, taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such proposal (including, among other things, the financing, likelihood and timing of its consummation and any adjustments to the merger agreement). The merger agreement contains certain termination rights for Dell and Parent. Among such rights, and subject to certain limitations, either Dell or Parent may terminate the merger agreement if the merger is not completed by November 5, 2013. The terms of the merger agreement did not impact Dell's Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2013.

NOTE 18 — SUBSEQUENT EVENT

Merger Agreement

On February 5, 2013, Dell announced that it had signed a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “merger agreement”) pursuant to which it will be acquired by Denali Holding Inc. (“Parent”), a Delaware corporation owned by Michael S. Dell, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Dell, and investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake Partners, a global private equity firm (“Silver Lake”). Following completion of the transaction, Mr. Dell will continue to lead Dell as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and will maintain a significant equity investment in Dell by contributing his Dell shares to Parent and making a cash investment in Parent. Subject to the satisfaction or permitted waiver of closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement, the merger is expected to be consummated before the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year ending January 31, 2014.

At the effective time of the merger, each share of Dell's common stock issued and outstanding immediately before the effective time, other than certain excluded shares, will be converted into the right to receive $13.65 in cash, without interest (the “merger consideration”). Shares of common stock held by the Parent and its subsidiaries, shares held by Mr. Dell and certain of Mr. Dell's related parties (together with Mr. Dell, the “MD Investors”), and by Dell or any wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell will not be entitled to receive the merger consideration.

Dell's stockholders will be asked to vote on the adoption of the merger agreement and the merger at a special stockholders meeting that will be held on a date to be announced. The closing of the merger is subject to a non-waivable condition that the merger agreement be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of (1) at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock and (2) at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock held by stockholders other than Parent and its subsidiaries, the MD Investors, any other officers and directors of Dell or any other person having any equity interest in, or any right to acquire any equity interest in, Parent's merger subsidiary or any person of which the merger subsidiary is a direct or indirect subsidiary. Consummation of the merger is also subject to certain customary conditions. The merger agreement does not contain a financing condition.

The merger agreement places limitations on Dell's ability to engage in certain types of transactions without Parent's consent during the period between the signing of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger. During this period, Dell may not repurchase shares of its common stock or declare dividends in excess of the quarterly rate of $0.08 per share authorized under its current dividend policy. In addition, with limited exceptions, Dell may not incur additional debt other than up to $1.8 billion under its existing commercial paper program, $2.0 billion under its revolving credit facilities, $1.5 billion under its structured financing debt facilities, and up to $25 million of additional indebtedness. Further, other than in transactions in the ordinary course of business or within specified dollar limits and certain other limited exceptions, Dell generally may not acquire other businesses, make investments in other persons, or sell, lease, or encumber its material assets.

Parent has obtained equity and debt financing commitments for the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, the aggregate proceeds of which, together with the proceeds of a rollover investment of Dell shares in Parent by the MD Investors, an investment in subordinated securities and the available cash of Dell, will be sufficient for Parent to pay the aggregate merger consideration and all related fees and expenses. The commitment of financial institutions to provide debt financing for the transaction is subject to a number of customary conditions, including the execution and delivery by the borrowers and the guarantors of definitive documentation consistent with the debt commitment letter.

Pursuant to the terms of a “go-shop” provision in the merger agreement, during the period beginning on the date of the merger agreement and expiring after March 22, 2013, Dell and its subsidiaries and their respective representatives may initiate, solicit and encourage any alternative acquisition proposals from third parties, provide nonpublic information to such third parties and participate in discussions and negotiations with such third parties regarding alternative acquisition proposals. Under the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, before the company stockholder approvals adopting the merger agreement, the Board of Directors may change its recommendation, including in order to approve, and may authorize Dell to enter into, an alternative acquisition proposal if the special committee of the Board of Directors that recommended approval of the merger has determined in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors, that such alternative acquisition proposal would be more favorable to Dell's stockholders, taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such proposal (including, among other things, the financing, likelihood and timing of its consummation and any adjustments to the merger agreement).

The merger agreement contains certain termination rights for Dell and Parent. Among such rights, and subject to certain limitations, either Dell or Parent may terminate the merger agreement if the merger is not completed by November 5, 2013.

The terms of the merger agreement did not impact Dell's Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2013.