tried a lot of times to login, but kept getting the loading screen freeze bug and then I got in and had to start a new char...

HAHA! found 5tents on a server all by themselves now I've got 2 M4A1 CCO SD and 3 NV , 2 Rangethingies, 2 gps, and a 9mm sd MUAHAHAHAAAAA! (Logged out by the lake near Chernogosk to the NE of it)

Yeah I did unfortunately neglect that at first, but it still did it when I did realise a version mismatch. I'll update it soon.

Spawned on the beach just right of the outskirts of Cherno, and followed the rail line heading north up to the east west junction. Saw a barn someone had obviously been in given there were some chemlights.

Then moved to the petrol station and picked some of my own, a canteen and a mag of pistol ammo. Then I went further north till I realised it was getting darker so I tried switching servers for one a bit lighter. 3 attempts later and I ended up spawning back on the shore again.

http://www.dayzcommander.com/

Helped me fix the Loading Screen problem, update you're game using this and it should work.

Welp, in and played on a server where I get more than 4FPS! First two lives involved getting killed by Z before finding a gun. Current life I started just west of Elektro, only one other player in game, so have been to both fire stations and found an M1911 pistol and AKS, both with a bit of ammo.

Someone started sniping at me when I was in the top of the fire station tower near the power plant. Thinking I was unlucky to find the one other person, I got my map out and found that four more had logged in since Three shots all missed, so I scooted back down to the main room, shut all the doors, and logged off crouched in the corner for the time being.

My version is 1.7.2.4, and UK125 (not that it's appeared much on the server browser) is 1.7.2.5? Six Launcher isn't giving me any update options, so how do I update?

Download the files from the DayZ website. If you're using Six Launcher, start it up.
Go to the DayZ mod folder in the ArmA:OA folder, go to the addons folder, paste the new files overwriting the old.

Now you can can play 1.7.2.5. Six launcher will still say 1.7.2.4, and when you try joining an updated server it will say "this server appears to be outdated" or other such gubbins, ignore it and continue.

The Six Launcher autoupdater is still on the 1.7.2.4 build, so you need to start it up before you copy the new files. Doesn't matter afterwards. So you don't have to keep copying the new files each time you start up.

Honestly I would really recommend using DayZcommander instead. It's a lot better than the sixlauncher.

I've ust swapped to DayZCommander over SixLauncher. It is a straight upgrade, seriously.

On my third life now. First try I picked up a shotgun but couldn't find any food. Walked into a house and got mobbed. Second life went better, found a hatchet, walked along the coast for the most part, found a lee enfield and plenty of ammo, plus a revolver, and this time found some food. I was gathering a good collection.

It all ended during the night. I couldn't see those crawling buggers, and one of them got the jump on me. Knocked the crap out of me, leaving me to bleed. A bunch of others took chase, had to run. I bandaged up, shot them, but was left on 1800 blood. So I went looking for some more food, and maybe some matches. I found some matches despite passing out repeatedly, but literally 5 minutes later, I was knocked out by another zombie and it killed me.

Third life, well, I've spawned by Bolota, had a rummage around the airport, got an M16A2. Went looking for food (again) head into town, chopper appears overheard. I thought it had flown away, but whilst crawling around, it comes back, and starts circling the town and airport. Hear a few bullets hit nearby. It's stalking me. I keep moving. It makes another pass, I hide behind a fence. Comes around, hear more gun fire, definitely chasing me. So I get up, run, hide behind a house, nearly gets me. I pussy out and log off.

First time I see a chopper and it decides to give me shit, typical

I've had that happen to me a couple times too, Spiderbloke! Damn bandits.

Anyway, I spawned by Komarovo, jogged down the coast to the little military camp near Balota where I found a PDW and couple dead guys, one of whom had an ALICE pack and M1014 amongst other gadgets. Raided the airfield and found 2 AK74s, so I shot some zees with the M1014 then took an AK because of how much more efficient ammo storage is.

Headed due north at the moment, I want to actually see Stary Sobor for the first time ever!