In MS-DOS backup and recovery, which command restores files that were previously backed up using the DOS BACKUP utility?

Introduction / Context:
Before integrated GUI backup tools, MS-DOS provided command-line utilities to copy selected files to backup media and later recover them. Correctly pairing the backup and restore utilities is important because metadata, selection criteria, and archive formats must match to ensure complete recovery of the protected files.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• You have a set of files backed up using the BACKUP command.
• You need to recover these files to their original or specified directories.
• You are operating in a standard DOS environment with the DOS utilities available.

Concept / Approach:
The RESTORE command is the companion to BACKUP. It reads the backup set, interprets the archive structure, and rewrites the files to the target path, preserving attributes as supported by the DOS version. Using generic copy tools does not interpret the backup format; they only duplicate raw files or disks and therefore cannot unpack the BACKUP archive correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Attempting to access files directly from the backup media without RESTORE typically fails to recreate the original directory structure and attributes, underscoring the need for the paired RESTORE utility.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• COPY: Copies individual files; it does not parse a BACKUP archive.
• DISKCOPY: Clones entire diskettes sector by sector, not BACKUP sets.
• STORE: Not the standard DOS recovery command name.
• None of the above: Incorrect because RESTORE is the dedicated tool.

Common Pitfalls:
Restoring to the wrong path, omitting switches for subdirectories, and overwriting newer files unintentionally by not checking timestamps and options.

Final Answer:
RESTORE