Two things.
1) There is no license activation prior to cf2021.
2) As for the odd error, I suspect it's because of your trying to use that license key with this Commandbox implementation of cf. That's not allowed.
Commandbox deploys cf using war file deployment (under the covers), and licensing of such cf war file deployment is supported only with CF enterprise, not Standard.
FWIW, it's also allowed for use with the free cf trial or Developer edition (which is what you get when you enter no license key), and that may be why you may have never noticed this licensing limitation before.
3) As for solving things, assuming you won't have an enterprise license key to use, just bring the same cf2018 nstaller you had on the old machine, install it on the new, and it's during THAT install when you will be asked for the old license key.
Then you could migrate the cf admin settings either using cf's car file feature, or you can use Commandbox's cfconfig module. That does NOT require that the cf instance itself be running under Commandbox, whether for export or importing of cf admin settings.
4) You are probably aware that cf2018 stopped getting updates 2 years ago. You're at risk of unresolved vulnerabilities, but perhaps your feel the cost to upgrade (license and migration effort) outweighs the risk of being hacked. It's a gamble, but your to take.
5) Let us know how things go.
(I can help via direct screenshare consulting if needed, or there are others here and elsewhere who like me can help solely via back and forth this way.)
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