JGS52Ev2 ProSafe Managed Switch - Unable to Access via Configuration Utility or Web Browser

So… this is what happened in the end…

Following @schumaku’s excellent advice, I attempted to roll back the utility software but this still did not allow me access to the Switch to update the firmware, and neither did performing a hard reset directly on the Switch.

I then logged into my Netgear account and went to My Support > Contact Support > Replace My Defective Product and logged a case. This provided me with a phone number to call in the UK and I finally got to speak directly to a Netgear Technician. After explaining the issues with my network and the inability to access the Switch even after following Community advice, I was granted a replacement under RMA. Before ending this call, I enquired as to why I did not have access to the Lifetime Chat Support that came with my Switch, and discovered that an error their end had caused my Chat link to be hidden from my account. This was then rectified. I explained that it was because this tech support option was missing, I had used the Netgear Community – so for anyone else out there that should have Lifetime Chat Support for a registered product but cannot access it – it hasn’t been withdrawn (as I thought), it is probably just a glitch in the way your account has been set up, as mine was!

I have since received and installed the replacement Switch, and made use of the very helpful Online Chat as I wanted to know if it was OK to upgrade the firmware of my new Switch (which came with 2.0.1.40) straight to the latest 2.6.0.24, or if I needed to do it in stages and work through the in-between upgrades (and yes – it was fine to do it in the one step and the technician very helpfully did it for me via Teamviewer remote access). The new Switch works perfectly and I can now access it via the Utility and the Web GUI. Speeds are now consistent on my Network, and another niggling problem I had been having with an inability to RDP between PCs and Laptops on my Network has magically resolved also. Happy days!

So, it would seem that something went awry with my first Switch which caused the access issues and Network glitches, but the RMA replacement service via Netgear was superb. I had 10 days from receipt of the new Switch to install it and return the old one FOC via courier, all at no charge to myself, and my Lifetime Chat Support remains active on my account for my replacement Switch which was automatically registered when the replacement was sent out. All in all, a good result, and again my sincere thanks to @schumaku’s advice as this allowed me to quantify my problem by elimination and justify the RMA replacement.

What I have learned from this is that I need to be more vigilant in manually checking for firmware updates as I had not previously done this, thinking that I would receive alerts as I had registered my product (which I now know doesn't happen), just in case this was a cause of the access issue, and that I need to be logging into my Switch regularly to ensure all is accessible and working correctly. That way, I can hopefully pre-empt any future issues which are guaranteed to happen right when I least need them!

Hope this is helpful to others who experience either the same Switch problem I had, or are forced to post in the Community because their Chat Support link is not visible from their Netgear Account ;o)