<s​atmerk:matrix.org> Hey all, new here. I've downloaded the GUI and IBD is complete. Trying to mine P2Pool, but when I click start mining, The status stays stuck on "Starting P2Pool" for hours. Is this normal?

No, it should show eventually that you're mining. Did you add Monero GUI folder to antivirus exceptions?

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> Yes, no issues there

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> Should I be on the Mini chain or Main chain? It defaults to Mini. I've tried both but get the same result...

It should be on mini by default, it's fine. You can check p2pool folder inside Monero GUI folder - it should be p2pool binary and p2pool.log files there. Check if you see any errors in p2pool.log

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> There is a bitmonero.log but no p2pool.log

No, it's a wrong folder. P2Pool is installed in a subfolder of where Monero GUI binary is

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> I see a p2pstate.bin but no p2pool.bin

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> for what it's worth, solo mining works, but no p2pool. And there is no p2pool file or folder within the GUI folder

There should be p2pool folder there. If it's not there, then p2pool installation failed - check that you have write access to that folder. You can also try github.com/hinto-janai/gupax if GUI mining doesn't work for you

what OS do you use and where is Monero GUI installed? Path to it?

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> I'm on PopOS and it's in the home folder. home/Monero

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> definitely have write access

Is it /home/Monero/MoneroGUI ?

then try to create /home/Monero/MoneroGUI/P2Pool folder

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> No, just Home/Monero

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> There is no MoneroGUI folder

but all the binaries are inside /home/Monero ?

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> only 1 binary: p2pstate.bin

<s​atmerk:matrix.org> weird

No, this folder is for Monero node temporary files. You need to find where the binaries are installed

You probably don't have write access to that folder, it can be somewhere inside /usr/bin