I'm trying to learn and also make a presentation to my class about the penetration testing applications and tools in backtrack 5. I realize that this is not a good starter distribution for a newbie to learn. I have done a lot of stuff using command prompt in Dos and all versions of Microsoft Windows. I just want to expand my knowledge and get a good grade in my Linux class.
I did a lot of reading in forums and this is the closest I've found to a solution to my problem which is installing a wireless usb to Backtrack. The device is Belkin play wireless USB adapter model number fd74101. I just don't know how to implement the solution. Can anyone translate into newbie language for me?

Any Information you can give I will be grateful and appreciate.
This was copied from a compatibility list forum.

Using kernel 2.6.39-rc4 and ndiswrapper-1.56, had to apply ndiswrapper-1.56-2.6.35.patch, ndiswrapper-suse.patch, and manually modified wrapndis.c to change the include order. compiled, installed, did ndiswrapper -i bcmwlhigh5.inf and it worked. iwpriv network_type before association switches between g(2.4mhz) and a(5mhz). Still trying to figure out how to get 802.11n speeds.

have you gone through the tutorials ?
http://www.backtrack-linux.org/tutorials/
or the wiki
http://www.backtrack-linux.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Backtrack will have a VERY steep learning curve , a VERY steep one

I hope you have 6+ months (6 to 18 months) to start to learn it before you have to give this presentation

as you are finding out it was made by security EXPERTS for security EXPERTS and assumes that installing and/or building the source for a "driver" is second nature .

have a read through the bt forums
http://www.backtrack-linux.org/forums/

Thanks for helping. How can new users learn if they just get negative comments from the "EXPERTS" about how hard it is? A simple answer to the question would have been sufficient.

for backtrack
use the tutorials ?
pay for the training ?
take the classes

like "Linux From Scratch " and "Gentoo" and "Arch" they were not designed for the "new to linux " user

yes you can use them to learn on ,BUT there is a very huge learning curve

think of it this way
for an aircraft

yes a "new" pilot "could" launch and land a tomcat on an aircraftcarrier
BEFORE they even learn how to pilot a small single engine cesnia

but is it advisable to do so ???

It is not that we don't like you.

I think the issue here is the backtrack and how it is supposed to be use as opposed to how some people use it.

Others as well as myself really don't care to answer any questions about backtrack. If it were me, I'd ban any questions about it. It is a distro with very limited uses by only the most highly trained individuals. A true professional may use it but they had better not ask us for help unless it is a very technical issue. Your question is simple homework.

Backtrack has mainly two purposes
one that is good
and one that is NOT good

the "white hat" user IS taking the security training from "Offensive Security"
http://www.offensive-security.com/in...rity-training/

the "black hatter " ??? well
that is a BANNED topic , and for GOOD REASONS .


Now all other OS's can do what BT dose .It is just BT was designed for a this and is customized for that