The copy startup-config running-config command is used during the password recovery process on a Cisco router to load the saved configuration into the device's active running configuration. Here's why this is the correct choice:
Password Recovery Context: Password recovery often involves booting into ROMmon mode and changing the configuration register to bypass the normal boot process. This leaves the device with a blank running configuration.
Restoring Configuration: The copy startup-config running-config command copies the stored configuration (startup-config) from NVRAM into the running-config, which is used by the router for its operations.
Why other options are incorrect:
load_helper: While the load_helper command sometimes appears in password recovery procedures, it's typically used for older models and may not be necessary for all Cisco routers.
configure terminal: This command simply enters global configuration mode. It doesn't directly load a configuration.
copy running-config startup-config: This command saves the active running configuration into NVRAM as the startup-config. It's the reverse of what you need for password recovery.