I tried two approaches:

1. Using the official Bitcoin application plus Guiminer. Using this combination, Guiminer said "connecting" - after 24 hours of "connecting", I gave up

2. Using just the offical Bitcoin application alone (ie without Guiminer). The Bitcoin client just downlaoed all the blocks, but did not quote a hashrate in bottom left hand corner.

I have tried CPU mining, primarily to educate myself regarding the mining process. I left the Bitcoin software to run for over 24 hours, making certain that it had downloaded all the blocks (I double checked on another website for the current number of blocks).

However despite downloading all the blocks, the Bitcoin software did not quote a hashrate in the bottom left hand corner, so I assumed that I had done something wrong. I tried to upload a screenshot of my Biotcoin software to this forum, but the forumsoftware did not seem to be working as I could not upload the screenshot.

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wriong appreciated.

I tried to post screenshots using the "insert image" icon on this forum, but all it does is generate the following:

Is there an easy way to post a screenshot?

Thanks,

I left both my PCs running overnight using Guiminer connected to slushpool. However, even after running all night, they were still showing the message saying that they were connecting.

As I'm new to Bitcoin, could anyone tell me what thins means and why it takes so long to "connect"?

I have two fairly low spec computers which run 24/7. Neither has a dedcicated graphics card.

If I have them both running as CPU miners connected to a mining pool is this likely to generate many Bitcoins?