Disk repair issues.

Hi all. I have had a serious disk problem with my iMac and the Disk Utility is suggesting I repair the disk The option is "greyed out" in Disk Utility.
I am considering the options and would be grateful for any advice from kind community contributors. Should I:
Create a new disk image from my iMac HDD and save it on another attached disk. Can I then boot from that and repair my internal Mac HDD?
Boot from a DVD? Do I need to then to install the opserating system on another HDD and then run Disk Utility to correct the damaged Mac internal HDD?
Use Time machine to copy all my files and applications to another HDD and then erase, format and restore the copied files to my internal disk? Will this allow me to use all of my applications or will they need re-installation? Essentially the same as option 1
Cut my losses, back up all my (scant) data on the HDD inside the Mac and format the HDD then resore the data and re-install the OSX & all of my applications
I should say my Mac's HDD is 500GB and only 75 GB used of which 99% in applications including Adobe, some Internet downloads (Little Snitch etc)
Sorry for so many questions but I am pushed for time and the Mac problems are causing me real grief so it would be great to have some sound advice. Have a great day all and I hope to hear from some kind soul.

I haven't done this in a long time but if memory serves it might be in one of your menus (just skip the option to install).   I know its there since running DU from the installer disk is a pretty common response in these forums and the installer disk must provide the way to initialize a disk from the installer for a totally ground-up install.

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