What did you expect when Google gave the EVO 4G out to a bunch of Devs and hackers at Google I/O 2010?  Sure enough, it only took a couple days before it was rooted, and just in time for the release of the probably the baddest Android phone to date.  We reported last week that a developer posted a video showing that he achieved root access of the then unreleased Sprint EVO 4G.  He promised that the instructions would be released at the appropriate time.  We figured he just waiting for launch day to let the instructions out for public consumption.

Although the EVO isn’t officially released until tomorrow, members of XDA figured the time was right and posted up very simply instructions on the EVO 4G root process.  Well known member of XDA, toastcfh has posted up the steps and shortly after , there is already a stock rooted update.zip to flash after you’ve successfully rooted the device.  Make sure you read the tutorial very carefully before you attempt this.  This process will also require a full wipe of your device, so back up all data you want to save.

We don’t take any responsibility for anything bad that to your device, here at BlogsDNA.

You need these 2 files to complete the steps:

- PC36IMG.zip

- evorecovery

Below is a very handy and well written set of instructions from Android Central.  Phil from Android Central did a very good job with it and all credit goes to them.  (I don’t yet have a EVO to play with, hopefully this weekend I will)

The Evo 4G was rooted some days ago, and we finally have instructions. And it couldn’t be easier. If you’re new to this, we suggest you read through the thread at XDA Developers. And then read through it again. And after you think you don’t have any more questions, read through it one more time. (Note: THIS WILL WIPE YOUR PHONE.) For the advanced, it’s this simple:

1. Download this file (PC36IMG.zip). Move it to the root (as in top level) of the Evo’s storage card.

2. Turn the phone off. Once it is, hold down the volume button and the power button until you get a white screen and some text. You’re now in the bootloader. It should automatically start checking the PC36IMG.zip file you put on the card.

3. Once it’s done, it’ll list all the images on the card and ask if you want to flash. (This is your last chance to back out.) Say yes, and we’re on our way. It’ll look like this as it’s going:

4. After it’s done, it’ll ask if you want to reboot. Surely.

That’s it. You have a rooted ROM. You’ll want to rename (or delete) the PC36IMG.zip image file that you put on the card, so that next time you enter the bootloader it won’t try to automatically update again. You can do that by plugging in the phone, choosing “HTC Sync” and going to your favorite command line prompt and typing:

adb shell mv /sdcard/PC36IMG.zip /sdcard/root-PC36IMG.zip

Leave the phone plugged in if you want to go on to the next section and load the custom recovery. (After the break, for cleanliness.) Otherwise, you’re done.

Flashing recovery for custom ROMs

If you’re going to want custom ROMs on the Evo, you need to flash the recovery image. Here’s how you do that.

1. Download this file (evorecovery) to your desktop (or whereever). Then unzip it.

2. Return to your favorite command line prompt and type “adb reboot recovery” (without quotes). This will reboot the phone into recovery mode. It looks like this:

3. Once it’s in recovery mode, go back to your computer. Find the evo-recovery file that you unzipped. Inside are a series of files. For Windows, double-click “recovery-windows.bat.” (If you’re running Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click it first and choose “Run as administrator.” Let it do it’s thing, and you’ll now have the custom recovery module so you can back up the phone, flash custom ROMs, etc.

So as you can see the whole process is pretty painless, actually similar to the 1-Click root for the myTouch 3G and G1.  If you want getting your EVO tomorrow, or already have and want an even easier way to root the EVO, the Unrevoked one-click root program, will be released tomorrow at unrevoked.com.

So everyone that has the EVO already or is preparing to try and get one tomorrow, I bid you good luck, and safe rooting :)

[via Android Central & XDA]