Proxies are a mess - won't connect, slow the whole program down when toggled on

Proxies won't connect to the original files.  Want's me to connect proxies one by one...when toggled on creates flashing of images in sequence.  Created proxies through media encoder and used the suggested recomendations, but no watermark appeared even though it was checked and proxies never connected.  I have to restart the program if I toggle Proxies on...we all know what a time suck that is if you're trying to jam out a project.