What process involves pulling files from the disk into memory and replacing old files?

The process described involves pulling files from the disk into memory, commonly referred to as "caching." A disk cache is a portion of the storage that temporarily holds frequently accessed data to allow for quicker access. When data is retrieved from slower mass storage (like hard drives or SSDs), the disk cache helps speed up that process by keeping copies of that data in a faster, more accessible region of memory.

When new files are needed, the disk cache may replace older files with the new ones, optimizing the use of memory resources and ensuring that the most frequently requested data is readily available. This mechanism is crucial for improving system performance, as it reduces the latency typically associated with accessing data stored on disk.

The other options refer to different concepts. For instance, mass storage relates to the actual physical devices used to store data long-term, not the process by which files are managed in memory. Similarly, address pathways and data pathways more closely describe the means by which data is transferred between components within a computer rather than the specific caching process. Therefore, the correct answer is aligned with the function and purpose of a disk cache in memory management.