[Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE] PillowMetal:
The method in this thread is definitely the preferred method or getting root (which does not unlock the bootloader or install a custom recovery), because it then sets you up perfectly for S-OFF, which should be done immediately after this.

That way, you do not have to worry about any hboot or flashing problems people are having with the latest OTAs, you are free to flash any /boot, /recovery or hboot you want, or RUU to any version you want, and in fact can do almost all of it from the bootloader instead of recovery.

There is nothing particularily needed for your setup to achieve root through this post's method, because since you are not rooted you haven't really changed anything from stock.

For S-OFF you want to be as close to stock as possible for it to succeed, so I would attempt to get it immediately after you root so you are still in stock condition - don't flash recovery or install custom ROM etc., which would require you to htcdev unlock the bootloader anyway. You could also run the RUU for 1.13.651.1 first to be sure (which will wipe the phone data but not either of the SDCards), then get root back via this post and proceed to S-OFF.

So since you are lucky enough to still have 1.13.651.1, I would perform the following steps in order.

1) Backup any SDCard information to your computer just to be safe

2) Run the 1.13.651.1 RUU if you don't have any on-phone data to lose - (make sure you are using the mentioned version only - NOT 1.22.651.3 or later)

3) Root the phone (SU and busybox) using the method in this post

4) If you skipped step 1 - use Titanium Backup to back up any stuff you want to preserve in the /data partition (or skip this if you have nothing worth preserving)

5) Achieve S-OFF - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1737123

Then if you want more than just root...

6) Flash TWRP 2.2.2.0 custom recovery from the bootloader - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1675738

7) Flash custom ROMs, tweaks, mods, etc.

At any point after having S-OFF you can go back to completely stock by running the RUU, any version of your choice. I would also probably do a nandroid backup from recovery in between steps 6 and 7.

P.S. The SuperSU and busybox still work but are a little outdated, so once you get the custom recovery installed, flash a newer version of SuperSU which can be found in these forums, and perhaps a newer version of busybox. Both of these can also be obtained from the market, but I personally prefer to have my phone set up with full root and custom recovery before I even log into Google.

Let me know if you need more specifics on where to find things or how to perform them.

---------- Post added at 01:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:35 PM ----------

The zip file you are referring to is for another thread that involves rooting through htcdev unlock. This thread's zip file is "Evo4GLTERoot.zip" and does not unlock the bootloader or install a custom recovery. The link for the mirror in the OP is working for me, but let me know and I can post a copy if it is not working for you.

I also have a copy of the other zip file with a "2" on the end, but I would want to post that in the other thread where it applies, to avoid confusion here.