Ethernet doesn't have a valid IP configuration (SOLVED, but no idea how that happens)

Hello all,

I'm beyond frustrated. My ethernet connection, which has been rock solid stable for years, suddenly stopped working. I've scoured the internet for answers, and none of the proposed solutions has been effective. I'm able to connect to the internet via WiFi, but ethernet is obviously faster and more stable (well, it used to be).

Here are my system specs:

Windows:

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎12/‎6/‎2023

OS build 19045.4894

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0

Ethernet Controller:

Link speed (Receive/Transmit): 1000/1000 (Mbps)

Link-local IPv6 address: fe80::9559:ae51:4958:9ddd%13

IPv6 DNS servers: fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1

fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1

fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1

Manufacturer: Intel

Description: Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I226-V

Driver version: 1.1.4.43

Physical address (MAC): C8-7F-54-6D-08-14

Amazing. Microsoft isn't allowing me to upload images, despite explicitly asking for screenshots. I'll add them as soon as I figure out why I'm not allowed.

My internet connection this morning is called "Unidentified Network" with "No Internet Access." When I run the troubleshooter, the error it detects is "'Ethernet' doesn't have a valid IP configuration." Here's what I've tried thus far, to no avail (and yes, I implemented all of these as administrator*)*:

1. Rebooted PC
2. Rebooted modem, router, switch
3. Discharged static from PC
4. Reset network adapter (Disable --> Enable)
5. Uninstalled network adapter, then reinstalled
6. Reset Network Settings
7. Assigned manual IP address (switched back to auto DHCP when it didn't work)
8. Ensured DHCP Client and WLAN AutoConfig are running and set to Automatic Startup
9. Reset TCP/IP stack in PowerShell (netsh winsock reset catalog and netsh int ip reset)
10. Attempted to renew IP address, but there was an inexplicable issue. I ran CMD prompt as admin and entered: ipconfig /release ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /renew

After the last command, nothing happened; the cursor moved to the next line and blinked, but nothing executed. CMD prompt was in a hang state, and I had to close the window.

11. Downloaded and installed the newest driver for my ethernet adapter from Intel.
12. Looked to see if rolling back to a previous version of Windows was a feasible option, but the problem began long after the latest update.
13. Plugged ethernet cable into different devices to make sure it wasn't a simple cable issue; everything connects without issue aside from my PC.

There is nothing that has changed in my system configuration/settings. I didn't use my PC for a couple of days, and when I logged on, this unsolvable and entirely new problem had reared its ugly head. Would appreciate any and all insight--hopefully, I'm just overlooking some obvious fix.

Thanks in advance,

Grabes

p.s. Again, I will edit this post to add images as soon as Microsoft Forums will allow it.

EDIT--SOLVED (but no idea how this works):

Adding this in case it helps others with the same issue (or can explain to me how this works). Apparently, my wife had disconnected one of our Netgear ORBI satellites, and never plugged it back in. Somehow, this disabled several (but not all) of the ethernet connections throughout our home, but did absolutely nothing to the WiFi. Makes no sense to me since the satellite is essentially a mesh WiFi repeater, but hey, I'm not a network engineer.