You try the wireless assistant present in Backtrack?

Click The K -> Internet - > Wireless Assistant
Should detect wireless networks for you.

Hi,

I run backtrack from a usb stick. Here's 3 of the folder full of text files I also have on the key for command references. They're all things I've pulled from various forums and saved for later use.

Hope it helps.

I've noticed that depending on the age of the laptop, if it is new BT will not always have the driver for your card.  Also, you have to sometimes do a bit of iwconfig work to get things rolling.  Sometimes it is best to try out something like Ubuntu, and download/install all of the tools from backtrack 3 into it.  It gives you experience with Linux, and it helps you understand how to trouble shoot various wifi problems and such associated with different hardware.  I do love my backtrack thumbdrives, but the experience of working with Ubuntu outside of just the testing tools has been most useful in getting a better grasp on BackTrack for me.

Yep, I used to have that problem with BT2.  BT3 had updated drivers that worked on my work lappy though.  My personal laptop is still a bit high end though, and I have had far more luck just installing Ubuntu and compiling the tools on it.