Ethernet controller not working Asus M5A97 LE R2.0

[syntaxjedi]

I am at a real loss here, no matter what I do my realtek ethernet controller refuses to work. I tried installing the drivers from the website and got the error "Network controller was not found" and it asks me to plug the cord if it's in deep sleep mode. I tried removing the battery from the mobo to reset it. I tried the controller under linux, there wasn't a connection in Ubuntu. The weird part is that it lights up when I plug in my ethernet cord, and it flashes and blinks and all that, so it appears to be working. All the relevant settings are enabled in the BIOS, so there shouldn't be an issue there. Is there anything else I can try, or should I just wait until I can buy a new network card?

edit:
forgot to mention that there is no trace of the controller at all in windows, it doesn't show up under device manager or anything.

 

[Calculagator]

It's not uncommon for ethernet controllers built into motherboards to fail. It could be a faulty cable or router/switch port.
I would try plugging in something else to the cable to make sure that whatever is on the other end is working. If that works, then I would guess the controller has died.