Asus z170m-plus micro atx can't connect to ethernet

[Tofugrass]

I built a desktop recently, here are the relevant specs: i7 6770k skylake, asus z170m-plus micro atx motherboard, windows 10. My computer refuses to connect to ethernet, and I know that it is not the fault of the cord or the router. Here's what I know already:
-When I hover the icon on the bottom right, the caption "Unidentified Network, no internet connection" appears.
-When I look under network adapters in device manager only "Intel(R) Ethernet Connection (2) I219-V" appears. There is no realtek of any sort listed anywhere.
-When I use the troubleshoot connection problems feature, it displays "Ethernet does not have a valid IP configuration."
-I have tried changing my ipv4 address from automatic to manual, and typing in an ip address.
-I have tried installing the realtek network adapter for windows 10, and windows 7, and each time, I'm faced with the "Realtek network controller was not found. If deep sleep mode is enabled, please plug the cable."
-I installed the mobo drivers immediately after installing windows 10.
-I downloaded the intel windows 10 network adapter driver and tried installing that.
-I resetted my mobo by removing the ram for an hour and tried rebooting, but I still saw the same errors.
-Basically, no matter what drivers I install, I keep getting errors.

 

[alexoiu]

From your board specs:
LAN: Intel® I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
So, no Realtek. Only Intel.
I'd try reinstalling Windows, no other driver, and testing.

 

[sailonset]

It is an Intel Ethernet controller. I just "upgraded' my Z170M-PlUS to Windows to run into the same problem. Didn't like my HP printer, either! All this after telling me that everything was good to go? Glad it took very little time to "downgrade." Just finding the driver info in Win10 was a pain. Looks like another OS for Dummies.