You start by checking it has oil in,petrol and oil if it is a 2 stroke, pressing the kick starter a few times to make sure the engine isn't seized with the ignition off,fit a new battery(follow instructions and charge it up first)then ignition on and kick it,it may well fire up you don't know,it doesn't have to get involved if you start here don't mess with it until you know what it is like now,see if it's a "runner" first.Good luck I think you may be asking a few more questions before your finished.
Rich
January 2010