Dead parallel port (/dev messup)

Hi, I've had an unfortunate adventure today
- I have ACCIDENTALY erased all the contents
of /dev directory (don't ask :>). I have
eventually copied the whole structure from some
bootable cd and regenerated missing nodes, BUT
I have a problem with parallel port - for instance,
when I echo to /dev/parport0 or /dev/lp0, I get
a feedback:
bash: /dev/parport0: no such device
Major and minor are as in
/lib/modules/2.4.26/build/Documentation/devices.txt ie
c 6 0 for lp0 (and, as I have just found out, /dev/par0)
c 99 0 for parport0

Is it significant that there are (at least) two files
linked to the same node?

Does anyone know how to make the port work, or at
least know the reason for this state of affairs?
[it didn't require any explicit modprobes before,
was just working ok; i have tried modprobing
parport and parport_pc (without parameters), but
it doesn't seem to change anything]

Thanks in advance
Maciek
.