Ethernet Connection not working

Hi
This is not really a windows 10 problem but perhaps somebody can help me.
I have been using Teamviewer and my work computer to access my personal laptop which is on the same premises - I live on the same premises as my workplace. Over the past few days I have been trying to get teamviewer wake on lan to work. It seems very coincidental to me that suddenly after using teamviewer this problem occured. On Thursday this week (16/2/2017) while connected to my laptop with teamviewer I experienced a few times when I had to reconnected - I assumed this was because the internet went down and came back on. I used my laptop without any problem that night without remotely accessing it via teamviewer, physically using it. I even used the LAN connection to browse the internet. On Friday we had a huge electrical storm in my area, and I noticed that I couldn't connect via teamviewer even though the laptop was switched on and wasn't in sleep mode. I went to my laptop a bit later that day and discovered that my Ethernet connection wasn't working. I tried to connect via wifi - I could, had to use the windows troubleshooter because something was wrong but it fixed it and I could and still can connect via wifi. I decided to look at posts on various internet site to see how others has sorted out the problem, Ive tried various things that were mentioned and some far nothing has helped. I suspect my Ethernet port has been fried but how can I be certain of this?
I had the driver that I originally loaded to get the Ethernet working years ago I cannot remember the name of the driver but I think it was realtek local area network driver - when I try to reinstall the driver because it has disappeared from device manager) it goes through the installation and then says that the realtek network controller was not found if deep sleep mode is enabled. Please plug the cable. and nothing reappears in device manager. Yes that is what its says word for word on the net, I searched for that error and plug the cable seems to mean "power off".
Other things I have tried
There was a suggestion to check the router port - my router port where the other end of the Ethernet cable goes seems ok
Another suggestion was to restart - no difference
Another suggestion was to remove the ram so deep sleep doesn't happen - I did it, no change.
Somebody please help.

The network does not appear in device manager, router light is lighting.

Nick

Check in BIOS, if LAN adapter has not been disabled, though highly unlikely. Other then that, yes, it might be dead. You better get a surge protection regardless, is costs a few bucks and some protect ethernet as well.