Updates are not always good for everyone.
I am using Windows 7 and got frequent BSOD recently just because Windows update automatically installed some problematic updates in my system. For example, if cep was working fine in September but begin to distort in October, then uninstall the updates downloaded in October. If security isn't important to you, uninstall the security updates as well. If it doesn't help, try to uninstall the Windows update you installed (something like KBxxxxxx) except security updates. You may try to right-click your CEP.exe>properties>compatibility, then try an earlier version of Windows.
Which service pack are you using? Did you downloaded the latest updates from Microsoft? CEP is a old software, it is possible that some latest updates from Microsoft are causing compatibility problems.
