When you restore a database, filegroup, or database file, SQL Server zeroes the file space before it begins the restore operation. This action can slow the total recovery time by as much as a factor of 2. To eliminate file initialization, run the MSSQLSERVER service under a Windows account that has been assigned the SE_MANAGE_VOLUME_NAME. For more information about eliminating the file initialization, see the SQL Server and Windows 2003 documentation.