I need help with hplip-3.21.8
 

I installed hplip-3.21.8 on my Ubuntu 20.04.

I used the "hplip-3.21.8.run" file that I downloaded from HP website and I stored that file in my Download folder. I executed that file using the terminal straight from the Download folder.

The problem now is that the result (the hplip folder, with hundreds of files in it) is in my Download folder. Is it safe to move that folder somewhere else? If not, how do I uninstall & reinstall hplip-3.21.8 because I don't want the extracted files to be in my Download folder.

You don't need to uninstall and reinstall.
All you need is to decide where you want those files/directories to be then move them.

I personally tend to keep a lot in my downloads folder, but by creating sub-directories by category it remains manageable.

you could use the standard ubuntu package? https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/HPLIP/
(in german.. ;-)
English should be anywhere.

I second the suggestion to install HPLIP from the Ubuntu repos amd to install it using the Software Boutique (or whatever they are calling it this week). The installation process will ensuer that files are placed in their correct locations.

Note that the HPLIP install often involves two packages, one for HPLIP itself and one for the GUI interface (hp-toolbox on the command line).
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It might not be the very latest version, but that should make no difference in functionality.

Thank you for your answer. But that does not really answer the question I'm having. How do I uninstall it?

Within the hplip directory that was extracted from the .run file you should be able to run "sudo make uninstall" and it would remove the binaries it installed.

As a secondary action before you install it from the main repo you should remove any printer config you have for that printer.

Then "sudo apt install hplip hplip-gui " should install the packages needed.

My guess (please a specialist can perhaps confirm): Just deleting/removing the directory (with all files in it) from the Download folder (I dont see what could break; especially if no sudo command was used to make the .run working).
Perhaps few "rest" files of type .xxx would be in the home directory and could be deleted.
This is what I would do straight (on my computer):
- delete the files from the Downloads area (remove the dir with all files in it)
- then install the ubuntu package

You are forgetting to uninstall the binaries which the .run file installed that may conflict with the binaries installed by the ubuntu package.

Yes, sudo was used by the .run file (password asked for during install) to install the binaries.

https://fossies.org/linux/hplip/doc/uninstalling.html
Do this? (result of googling "uninstall hplip-3.21.8.run")

That is exactly what I said in post 6. Except that link does not address the binaries in /usr/bin, only the files under /usr/share.

Using "make uninstall" removes both.