Ethernet cable plugged in but shows 'Unidentified network'
Windows establishes a physical Ethernet link but fails to receive a valid DHCP lease from the router, defaulting to an unusable 169.254.x.x APIPA address.
Internal desktop parts run on harmless 12V DC voltage and cannot shock you. Simply unplug the wall power cable first, then touch the unpainted metal case frame to ground static electricity.
Common Symptoms & Tells
- Ethernet icon shows yellow triangle or globe with 'Unidentified network'
- Running 'ipconfig' reveals an IPv4 address starting with 169.254
- Default gateway is blank in ipconfig output
Interactive Fix Checklist
0 of 4 steps completedTest Ethernet cable and router LAN port
Inspect Ethernet RJ45 connectors for bent gold pins or broken locking tabs. Plug cable into a different numbered LAN port on the router, or test with a replacement CAT6 cable.
Force DHCP lease renewal
Open Command Prompt as admin and run: 'ipconfig /release' then 'ipconfig /renew'. If it times out, the router DHCP server is unreachable.
Disable and re-enable the Ethernet network adapter
Press Win+R, run 'ncpa.cpl', right-click 'Ethernet', select 'Disable', wait 10 seconds, then select 'Enable'.
Reinstall manufacturer LAN controller driver
Download the latest Realtek PCIe GbE / Intel I225-V LAN driver installer from the motherboard vendor website on another device and install.
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