Sort compiles but won't run

I have a sort in VB.net that tries to sort two columns in Excel speadsheet. It compiles fine but won't execute. I get the error on selecting the range of the sort.

Dim myRange As Excel.Range
Dim sortstart As String
Dim sortend As String
sortstart = "E" & LastRow + 2 'E93
sortend = "F" & LastScore 'F98
myRange = xlWs.Range(sortstart, sortend)
myRange.Select() '<--- Error
myRange.Sort(Key1:=myRange.Range(sortend),
Order1:=Excel.XlSortOrder.xlDescending,
Orientation:=Excel.XlSortOrientation.xlSortColumns)

Error: System.Runtime.InteropServices.comException: Select method of range class failed

It looks like the "myRange.Select()" isn't working but the two valules that make up myRange are valid and good.

Anyone have any ideas what I'm missing? Thanks

Additionally here are the references: Imports System.Configuration
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel
Imports Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel

This worked okay for me, I used .net 8, you didn't specify your target and I have Office Professional 2021

Code:

---


Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel
Imports Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel
Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

        ' open Excel file, sort the range close and save it
        Dim xlApp As New Excel.Application
        Dim xlWB As Excel.Workbook
        Dim xlWS As Excel.Worksheet
        Dim xlSortRange As Excel.Range

        Try
            xlWB = xlApp.Workbooks.Open("F:\Helping people online\NamesToSort.xlsx")
            xlWS = xlWB.Sheets("Sheet1")
            xlSortRange = xlWS.Range("A2:B5")
            xlSortRange.Select()
            xlSortRange.Sort(Key1:=xlWS.Range("A2"),
                        Order1:=Excel.XlSortOrder.xlDescending,
                        Orientation:=Excel.XlSortOrientation.xlSortColumns)

            xlWB.Save()

            MessageBox.Show("Sort has finished")
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show($"An error has occured: {ex.Message}")
        Finally
            If xlWB IsNot Nothing Then xlWB.Close()
            xlApp.Quit()

            System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(xlWS)
            System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(xlWB)
            System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(xlApp)
        End Try

    End Sub
End Class

---

Before and after screenshots