Migrated Server 2019 servers to new storage

Question

Migrated Server 2019 servers to new storage

Michael Pender 0

Migrated Server 2019 servers to new storage. All server licenses has been deactivated. Get the error 0xC004C020. Need help.

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Hello Michael,

The error 0xC004C020 indicates that the Multiple Activation Key (MAK) has exceeded its permitted activation limit. Since this issue occurred after migrating your Windows Server 2019 servers to new storage, the first step is to verify the activation method and determine whether the servers are using a MAK.

Please follow these steps:

Step 1: Check the current activation status

On each affected server, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

Review the licensing information to identify the activation channel and current license status.

Step 2: Request additional MAK activations

If the servers use a MAK, contact your organization's Microsoft licensing administrator or Microsoft support. Explain that the servers were migrated to new storage and now return error 0xC004C020.

Request an increase in the MAK activation limit or assistance reactivating the affected servers. Microsoft documents this as the recommended resolution for this error.

Step 3: Verify activation

After the activation limit issue has been resolved, retry activation:

slmgr.vbs /ato

Then verify the result:

slmgr.vbs /xpr

Important: Moving servers to new storage does not automatically mean that their licenses have been lost. The actual cause may depend on how the migration was performed and whether the servers' hardware identities or deployment configurations changed. Avoid repeatedly attempting activation until the MAK limit has been addressed.

For more information, see Microsoft's official documentation:

Troubleshoot Windows activation error codes

If this resolves your issue, please consider accepting the answer so it can help other community members facing the same problem.

Best regards,

Answer 2

Error 0xC004C020 means the Windows Server 2019 Multiple Activation Key (MAK) has reached its activation limit; request additional activations from the Microsoft Licensing Activation Center rather than repeatedly entering the key.^1^

Request a MAK activation-limit increase

On an affected server, open Command Prompt as administrator.
Collect the licensing details:
```
   slmgr.vbs /dlv
```
Record the Windows edition, license status, activation channel, and partial product key. Do not post the full product key publicly.
Gather the information requested by assisted support:
- Licensing agreement type and number
- Windows Server 2019 product details
- Company name and business email address
- MAK product key
- Number of migrated servers requiring reactivation
Contact the Microsoft Volume License Key Assisted Support number for your country/region and request a MAK activation exception or key-limit increase. This team specifically handles MAK/KMS activation exceptions and limit increases.^2^
After Microsoft increases the limit, run on each affected server:
```
   slmgr.vbs /ato
```
The expected result is successful online activation.

If assisted support requests phone activation

Run the following from an elevated prompt:

slui.exe 4

Select the country or region and follow the activation prompts. Phone activation is also used when a valid Windows Server license must be reactivated after replacement or migration and online activation cannot complete.^3^

If these are OEM licenses rather than volume MAK licenses, contact the server manufacturer because OEM reassignment rights can differ. The slmgr.vbs /dlv output identifies the installed activation channel.

References