v2.4.0.6
Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 36 Months Ended
Jul. 28, 2012
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 31, 2010
Jul. 28, 2012
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Rent expense $ 404,000,000 $ 428,000,000 $ 364,000,000  
Investor Funding Commitments 3,869,000,000 4,313,000,000   3,869,000,000
Liability for purchase commitments 193,000,000 168,000,000   193,000,000
Future compensation expense & contingent consideration 789,000,000      
VCE-Cumulative Investor Ownership 35.00%     35.00%
Percentage of VCE's losses 36.80% 36.80% 35.00%  
Losses from VCE (160,000,000) (76,000,000) (3,000,000) (239,000,000)
VCE-Carrying Value 153,000,000     153,000,000
Ownership percentage as a result of investment 86.00%     86.00%
Brazilian authority claim of import tax evasion by importer, tax portion 427,000,000     427,000,000
Brazilian authority claim of import tax evasion by importer, interest portion 1,000,000,000     1,000,000,000
Brazilian authority claim of import tax evasion by importer, penalties portion 1,900,000,000     1,900,000,000
Acquisition
       
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Compensation expense connection with the business combinations and asset purchases 50,000,000 127,000,000 120,000,000  
Insieme Networks Inc
       
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Future compensation expense & contingent consideration 750,000,000      
Investment in Insieme Networks, Inc. including funding and a license of technology 100,000,000     100,000,000
VCE
       
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Investment in Insieme Networks, Inc. including funding and a license of technology 392,000,000     392,000,000
Private Equity Funds | Investor
       
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Funding commitments 120,000,000 192,000,000   120,000,000
Investment in Insieme Networks, Inc. including funding and a license of technology $ 276,000,000 $ 90,000,000   $ 276,000,000
Minimum
       
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Term of operating leases, in years 1      
Warranty period for products, in days 90      
Maximum
       
Site Contingency [Line Items]        
Warranty period for products, in years 5